Maktab al-Khidamat

Maktab al-Khidamat

In 1980, Sheikh Abdullah Azzam established Maktab al-Khidamat in Peshawar University Town. In 1984, Sheikh Osama established a jihadist group called “Bayt al-Ansar.” The Sheikh was their biggest financial supporter. He had rented many guest houses where Arab Mujahideen coming from Arab countries were accommodated and given religious and physical training. In 1989, when Sheikh Abdullah Azzam was killed in a car bombing, the Sheikh emerged as a leading figure among the Arab Mujahideen.

In 1980, Sheikh Azzam established Maktab al-Khidamat in University Town, Peshawar, to organize this work in an organized way. Sheikh Osama was a financial supporter of this office. He had rented many guest houses in Peshawar, where Mujahideen coming from Arab countries stayed and received ideological and physical training.

In 1984, he established an organization called Bait-ul-Ansar, which worked together with Maktab al-Khidamat. Other Islamic and Arab charitable organizations could use its platform to help the Mujahideen. In 1983, Maktab al-Khidamat had rejected American aid. A former CIA officer also admitted that Maktab al-Khidamat had never accepted American aid. Rather, all of its support depended on aid coming from the Arab world. After some time, this organization became the largest platform for the Arab Mujahideen.

Wealthy Muslim organizations and individuals in Europe and America were also sending aid to support the Mujahideen. In this regard, Maktab al-Khidamat decided to establish an office in Brooklyn, America. Several similar organizations were also working in Europe, but after the Soviet Union was defeated in Afghanistan, these organizations also began to be closely monitored.