This article delves into al-Husseini's early life, his rise to power, his troubling partnership with the Nazis, and how his actions have influenced modern Islamist movements.
By Dr. Tim Orr
The Middle East's complex history has been shaped by figures whose legacies continue reverberating through the region's contemporary conflicts. Among these figures, few are as controversial and consequential as Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem during the British Mandate in Palestine. A sincere dedication to Palestinian nationalism, a deep-seated animosity toward Jews, and an alarming collaboration with Nazi Germany during World War II marked a polarizing leader al-Husseini's life. His alliance with Adolf Hitler not only aligned him with one of history's most infamous regimes but also played a pivotal role in shaping the ideological foundations of radical Islam. This article delves into al-Husseini's early life, his rise to power, his troubling partnership with the Nazis, and how his actions have influenced modern Islamist movements.
Haj Amin al-Husseini was born in 1897 in Jerusalem into a family with a long history of religious and political influence. The al-Husseini family was deeply embedded in the socio-political fabric of Jerusalem, wielding significant power within the Muslim community. As a young man, al-Husseini pursued religious studies at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, where he was exposed to the burgeoning currents of Arab nationalism and Islamic revivalism, and these formative years laid the groundwork for his later ambitions to become a leader of the Palestinian Arab community (Mattar, 1988).
The end of World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire brought dramatic changes to the Middle East, with the British and French carving up the former Ottoman territories. Palestine fell under British control, and the Balfour Declaration of 1917, which promised a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, further complicated the region's dynamics. Amidst this backdrop, al-Husseini emerged as a fierce opponent of Zionism, advocating for the preservation of Palestine as an Arab and Islamic land (Porath, 1986).
In 1921, the British High Commissioner for Palestine, Herbert Samuel, appointed al-Husseini as the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, which granted him significant religious authority and political influence. The British's appointment was a strategic move to placate the increasingly restive Arab population, but it also empowered a leader who would become one of the most radical voices against Jewish immigration to Palestine (Segev, 2000).
As Grand Mufti, al-Husseini wielded his authority to stoke anti-Jewish sentiments among the Arab population. His role in inciting violence became starkly evident during the 1929 Hebron massacre. Al-Husseini and his allies spread false rumors that Jews were planning to seize control of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, sparking widespread violence across Palestine. In Hebron, an Arab mob incited by this rhetoric brutally murdered 67 Jews, destroyed homes, and looted property (Krämer, 2011). This massacre marked a turning point, solidifying al-Husseini's reputation as a leader willing to use violence to achieve his nationalist goals.
The Arab Revolt of 1936-1939 further entrenched al-Husseini's role as a central figure in Palestinian resistance against both Jewish settlers and British authorities. During this period, al-Husseini orchestrated a campaign of strikes, protests, and armed attacks, aiming to halt Jewish immigration and end British rule in Palestine. The revolt, though ultimately unsuccessful, highlighted al-Husseini's ability to mobilize mass support and solidified his status as a key leader in the Arab nationalist movement (Pappe, 2006).
However, the failure of the revolt also led to al-Husseini's exile, setting the stage for his fateful alliance with Nazi Germany.
In the early 1940s, as World War II engulfed Europe, al-Husseini sought new allies to further his cause. His path led him to Berlin, where he found a willing partner in Adolf Hitler. Al-Husseini's decision to align with the Nazis was driven by a combination of ideological affinity—particularly his shared anti-Semitism—and strategic calculation. The Nazis, for their part, saw al-Husseini as a valuable asset who could galvanize support in the Arab and Muslim world against the Allies and Jewish interests (Dalin & Rothmann, 2009).
In November 1941, al-Husseini met with Hitler in Berlin, a meeting that would have profound implications for the Middle East. During their discussions, al-Husseini assured Hitler of his support for the Nazi cause and sought guarantees that the Axis powers would oppose the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. Hitler, who viewed the Jews as a common enemy, was receptive to al-Husseini's overtures and promised that once victory was secured, "the Arabs would be freed from the Jews" (Herf, 2009).
Al-Husseini's collaboration with the Nazis extended beyond mere diplomatic support. He became a vocal advocate for the Holocaust, urging Hitler to accelerate the extermination of Jews in Europe and to expand these efforts to the Middle East and North Africa. Al-Husseini's infamous letter to German and Italian officials in 1943 exemplifies his commitment to this cause: "It is the duty of Muhammadans in general and Arabs in particular to drive all Jews out of Arab and Muhammadan countries... This will afford a fundamental and final solution to the Jewish question" (Litvak, 1994).
Perhaps one of the most chilling aspects of al-Husseini's collaboration with the Nazis was his involvement in recruiting Muslims to fight for the Axis powers. He played a key role in forming the 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar, composed primarily of Bosnian Muslims. This division was notorious for its brutal anti-partisan operations in the Balkans and its participation in the persecution of Jews, Serbs, and other minorities (Mallmann & Cüppers, 2010).
Al-Husseini also became a central figure in Nazi propaganda efforts aimed at the Muslim world. From Berlin, he broadcasted radio messages in Arabic, urging Muslims to rise up against the Allies and join the Nazi cause. These broadcasts were laden with anti-Semitic rhetoric and calls for jihad, portraying the war as a holy struggle against the enemies of Islam. Al-Husseini's propaganda efforts sought to galvanize support for the Nazis among Muslims and to spread his virulent anti-Jewish ideology across the Arab world (Herf, 2009).
The legacy of Haj Amin al-Husseini's collaboration with Nazi Germany is one of the darkest chapters in the history of the Middle East, and its repercussions are still felt today. Scholars such as Dalin and Rothmann (2009) have argued that al-Husseini's actions during World War II played a crucial role in laying the ideological groundwork for modern radical Islam. His fusion of Islamic rhetoric with Nazi anti-Semitism created a dangerous precedent that subsequent Islamist movements have emulated.
One of the most significant examples of al-Husseini's influence can be seen in the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist organization founded by Hassan al-Banna in Egypt in 1928. While al-Husseini was not directly involved in the Brotherhood's creation, his ideas resonated deeply with its leadership. Al-Banna praised al-Husseini's efforts in Palestine and viewed him as a model for how Islamic leaders should resist Western and Jewish influence (Carr, 2021). The Brotherhood's ideology, which combines Islamic fundamentalism with political activism, was deeply influenced by al-Husseini's concept of jihad as a struggle against both internal and external enemies of Islam.
Al-Husseini's impact also extended to the Iranian Revolution of 1979, where Ayatollah Khomeini adopted a similar anti-Semitic and anti-Western rhetoric. Khomeini's use of Islamic themes to justify violence against perceived enemies of Islam echoed al-Husseini's approach during World War II (Rothmann, 2017). The ideological link between al-Husseini's collaboration with the Nazis and the rise of radical Islamist movements highlights the enduring influence of his ideas.
In contemporary times, al-Husseini's legacy continues to resonate in radical Islamist circles. Groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, which espouse both anti-Semitic and Islamist ideologies, can trace part of their ideological lineage to al-Husseini's efforts to blend Islamic fundamentalism with militant anti-Zionism. Al-Husseini's rhetoric, which portrayed Jews as the eternal enemies of Islam and called for their destruction, has been adopted and adapted by these groups to justify their violent actions (Litvak, 1994).
Moreover, al-Husseini's collaboration with Nazi Germany contributed to the spread of Holocaust denial and revisionism in the Arab and Muslim world. His close association with the Nazis and his endorsement of their anti-Semitic policies laid the groundwork for a narrative that denies or minimizes the Holocaust. This theme has been perpetuated by various radical Islamist groups and leaders (Mallmann & Cüppers, 2010).
The life of Haj Amin al-Husseini is a stark reminder of how religious authority and political ambition can intersect to create a legacy of violence and hatred. Al-Husseini's alliance with Nazi Germany during World War II was not just a strategic miscalculation but a profound moral failure that had far-reaching consequences for the Middle East and beyond. His actions helped shape the ideological foundations of radical Islam, particularly in how anti-Semitism and the concept of jihad were incorporated into Islamist discourse.
Today, the echoes of al-Husseini's collaboration with the Nazis can still be heard in the rhetoric of radical Islamist groups that continue to perpetrate violence in the name of religion. His legacy serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of combining religious extremism with political power, and it underscores the importance of confronting and challenging the ideologies that fuel such destructive movements. As the Middle East grapples with the consequences of al-Husseini's influence, we must remember this dark chapter in history and work towards a future where such ideologies no longer sway.
Carr, M. (2021). The Muslim Brotherhood and the West: A History of Enmity and Engagement. Harvard University Press.
Dalin, D. G., & Rothmann, J. F. (2008). Icon of Evil: Hitler's Mufti and the Rise of Radical Islam. Random House.
Herf, J. (2009). Nazi Propaganda for the Arab World. Yale University Press.
Krämer, G. (2011). A History of Palestine: From the Ottoman Conquest to the Founding of the State of Israel. Princeton University Press.
Litvak, M. (1994). Haj Amin al-Husseini and Nazi Germany: Collaboration and Annihilation. Israel Studies, 1(2), 50-74.
Mallmann, K., & Cüppers, M. (2010). Nazi Palestine: The Plans for the Extermination of the Jews in Palestine. Enigma Books.
Mattar, P. (1988). The Mufti of Jerusalem: Al-Hajj Amin Al-Husayni and the Palestinian National Movement. Columbia University Press.
Pappe, I. (2006). A History of Modern Palestine: One Land, Two Peoples. Cambridge University Press.
Porath, Y. (1986). In Search of Arab Unity: 1930-1945. Frank Cass.
Rothmann, J. F. (2017). The Grand Mufti, the Nazis, and the Iranian Revolution. Middle Eastern Studies, 53(1), 49-72.
Segev, T. (2000). One Palestine, Complete: Jews and Arabs Under the British Mandate. Metropolitan Books.
The ideas in this article are mine, but I assisted in writing this article.