Abdullah Azzam, al-Qaeda, and Hamas: Concepts of Jihad and Istishhad

While al-Qaeda and Hamas have become household terms, far less familiar is the man behind the idea of al-Qaeda, the Palestinian sheikh Abdullah Yusuf Azzam, who also did much to support the establishment and entrenchment of Hamas. This essay traces the links between Azzam and these two radical Islamic organizations and outlines his major in uence on central components of their agendas – jihad (holy war) and istishhad (martyrdom).