The Road to Al-Qaeda: The Story of Bin Laden's Right-Hand Man

by Montasser Al-Zayyat, Montasser Al-Zayyat, Sara Nimis (Editor)

The Road to Al-Qaeda is a controversial book. Written by an Egyptian human rights lawyer, it is the first English-language account of the development of tensions between violent and non-violent factions in radical Islamist movements, from the perspective of an insider. It is also a biography of one of the world's most-wanted Egyptian-born Dr Ayman al-Zawahiri. Widely recognized as the man who will take over the leadership of Al-Qaeda after Osama bin Laden, he is also the reputed architect of the Riyadh bombings in Saudi Arabia. The original version of this book sold widely across the Arabic world. Reproduced in translation here, with an extensive introduction from distinguished scholar Ibrahim Abu Rabi, it stands alone as an unrivalled account of the divisions within militant Islamist ideology. The author provides insight into the internal politics of Islamic Jihad, and the radicalisation of bin Laden's deputy; he examines Zawahiri's opposition to efforts by other militant Islamists to call a ceasefire with the Egyptian authorities; and he narrates the redirection of Zawahiri's activities towards the US and Israel. As an insight into one of the key minds behind Al-Qaeda this book makes unparalleled and disturbing reading. It is an important document for anyone who seeks to understand how a minority extremist ideology came to have such an impact on world events. -- Biography of the leading mind behind Al-Qaeda and one of the world's most-wanted terrorists -- Written by an Islamist, it provides a unique insight into radical Islam from an insider's viewpoint -- Extensive introduction from leading Islamic scholar sets explains the context and background to the book -- First English-language account of an Arabic bestseller -- Ideal for anyone who wants a non-Western perspective on the internal debates of Islamic activism

Genres: History

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 20, 2004

Reviews

[K.M. Ettahad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written, based on writer's personal experience. I think all the information are not authentic. But through this book I come to know many things about Zawahiri.

[Cindy Light · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like reading the old testament, but well worth the effort. Gained a much better understanding of the historical, ongoing issues of the middle east; especially in relation to how the U.S. is tied to the entire ball of wax. Yes, you should read this.

[Yasin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I randomly stumbled across this book and was surprised to see that one of my old professors wrote the introduction. Dr. Ibrahim Abu Rabi (rahimahullah), who passed away a few years ago, starts us off by setting down a foundation to start the journey into and in many ways explores the world of Islamist movements, however, in a unique insider’s perspective on contemporary Islamism. Al-Zayyat
then narrows our focus, to an often overlooked pillar of Al Qaeda, to critically analyze in detail the life of Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri and the struggles he faced.
One of the major misconceptions that Zayyat mentioned in the book was the role both Ayman Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden played in the 9/11 attacks. Zayyat doesn’t believe in the conspiracy theories because he knew Zawahiri more on a personal level and is well aware what he is capable of doing. Zayyat also mentions in detail the origins of the ideology of Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden. He talks about Sayyid Qutb being a “significant contributor to the jihadi Islamist philosophy”. Among Sayyid Qutb’s disciples were “the radical Islamists who conspired to murder Sadat in 1981 including Ayman al-Zawahiri, now Al Qaeda’s second in command”. It is important to reiterate that Osama Bin Laden and Ayman Zawahiri were deeply influenced by Qutb’s works. In fact, Osama bin Laden did regularly attend lectures given by Qutb’s younger brother, Muhammad Qutb. Only recently has Sayyid Qutb's book “Milestones”, started to be considered now as the "founding manifesto of Jihadism”. Another important book that Sayyid Qutb authored was titled, “Fi Dhilal al-Quran”(The Umbrella of the Quran). Zayyat mentions that this booked influenced Ayman Zawahiri so much that “it formed the framework for Zawahiri’s ideology and his approach to effecting change”. The impact Sayyid Qutb had on the belief of the radical Islamist is unmatched as Robert Worth, a New York Times journalist, mentions “But if one man deserves the title of intellectual grandfather to Osama bin Laden and his fellow terrorists (Ayman Zawahiri), it is probably the Egyptian writer and activist Sayyid Qutb”. There is a deep connection with Qutb works and Al Qaeda. Al-Zawahiri was also a practicing surgeon and there was a strong connection with the small economic class and the Muslim Brotherhood during his early years in the movement. This is a pretty dated book for this topic (published 2004) so it leaves me to wonder what additions Zayyat would add in regards to the rise of ISIL and the recent news surrounding Zawahiri today.

[Sami Eerola · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bit boring inter-Islamist squabbling, but this is a first hand account about the shifting of tactic in the Jihadists scene.

[Kusal Perera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too self centred for an analytical book that tries to dissect the birth and growth of Al-Qaeda. The author Montasser Al-Zayyat perhaps believes he is the only right man to tell this story

[Irfan Sadik · Rating 1 out of 5]

Most of the info based on his personal experience and grudge. Not reliable.