Osama bin Muhammad bin 'Awad bin Laden (; born 10 March 1957), most often mentioned as Osama bin Laden or Usama bin Laden, is a militant Islamist and is reported to be the founder of the terrorist organization called al-Qaeda.Michael Scheuer, Through Our Enemies' Eyes, p. 110 He is a member of the prestigious and wealthy bin Laden family. In conjunction with several other Islamic militant leaders, bin Laden issued two fatwas?in 1996 and then again in 1998?that Muslims should kill civilians and m