QUICK FACTS
Date of Birth
1907
Istanbul, Turkey
Place of Birth
Why Featured?
Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni was a central figure in the Palestinian Arab nationalist movement, known for his leadership in guerilla warfare and his role in the Arab revolt against the British Mandate and the 1948 fighting against the Israeli occupation.
BRIEF BIO
Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni was a prominent Palestinian Arab nationalist and fighter. Born in Istanbul to Musa Kazim Pasha al-Husseini and Zakiyya al-Husseini, he initially worked in the British Mandate government's settlement department. However, his life took a significant turn as he became actively involved in the struggle against the British during the 1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine. His leadership and combat skills were further highlighted during his participation in the Rashid Ali al-Gaylani coup in Iraq and his leading role in the Army of the Holy War in 1948. Tragically, he was killed in battle in April 1948, which had a profound impact on the morale of his forces.
LAST UPDATED
DATE
Monday, January 26, 2026
MAJOR MILESTONES
Key dates & turning points
1933: Founded the secret militant group, the Organization for Holy Struggle.
1936-1939: Actively led the struggle against British during the Arab Revolt.
1938: Exiled, later fleeing to Iraq and participating in the Rashid Ali al-Gaylani coup.
1946: Moved to Egypt and secretly returned to Palestine in 1948.
April 8, 1948: Killed in battle, impacting the morale of his forces.
CONTRIBUTIONS
What they did, and why it matters
Leading the Army of the Holy War: A major force during the 1948 war...See More
Participation in Rashid Ali al-Gaylani coup: Demonstrated his commitment to anti-colonial struggles...See More
Secretary-General of the Palestine Arab Party: Contributed to the political discourse.
Editor-in-chief of Al-Liwa and Al-Jami’a Al-Islamiyya newspapers: Influenced public opinion through media.
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Last updated
Jan 26, 2026
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