Successful Jihad

Pre-Modern and Early Examples

1. Early Islamic Expansion (7th–8th Centuries CE)

• Background: After the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ’s death (632 CE), the Rashidun Caliphate rapidly expanded beyond Arabia.

• Key Leaders: Caliphs Abu Bakr, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, Ali ibn Abi Talib.

• Tactics: Consolidation of Arabia, strategic alliances, well-coordinated armies, and highly mobile cavalry.

• Achievements:

  • Conquered the Byzantine provinces of Syria, Palestine, and Egypt.

  • Defeated the Sassanid Persian Empire, expanding Islam into Iraq, Persia, and Central Asia.

  • Set precedent for future Islamic empires, spreading Islamic governance and Sharia.

• Impact: A small Muslim community became a global empire in under a century.

2. Almoravid & Almohad Jihads (11th–13th Centuries)

• Location: North Africa and Andalusia (Spain).

• Background: Berber Islamic reformist movements aimed at purifying Islam and uniting Muslims under strict Maliki jurisprudence.

• Achievements:

  • Almoravids (1040s–1147): Founded a vast empire across Morocco, Western Sahara, Mali, and Spain.

  • Almohads (1121–1269): Overthrew Almoravids, pushed deep into Spain, and resisted Christian Reconquista for centuries.

• Impact: Created a golden age of Islamic scholarship and architecture in Andalusia.

3. Ottoman Ghazis and Caliphate Expansion (13th–17th Centuries)

• Location: Anatolia → Middle East → Europe.

• Background: Turkish warrior bands (Ghazis) expanded the Ottoman state using jihad as a motivating force.

• Achievements:

  • Conquest of Constantinople (1453) under Mehmed II.

  • Empire spread into the Balkans, North Africa, and Arabia.

  • Sultan held the title of Caliph, centralizing Muslim power for centuries.

• Impact: Longest-lasting caliphate, lasting until 1924.

Modern Jihadist Movements

4. Mahdist Revolt in Sudan (1881–1898)

• Leader: Muhammad Ahmad declared himself Mahdi (messianic leader).

• Background: Sudanese revolt against Egyptian and British colonial control.

• Achievements:

  • Captured Khartoum (1885), killing General Gordon.

  • Established an Islamic state over Sudan for over a decade.

• Impact: Demonstrated anti-colonial jihad success in the 19th century.

5. Soviet-Afghan War Mujahideen Victory (1979–1989)

• Background: Afghanistan’s mujahideen fought against the Soviet invasion, supported by the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan.

• Key Groups: Hezb-e Islami, Jamiat-e Islami, Taliban (emerged later).

• Achievements:

  • Soviet withdrawal in 1989; Afghan communist regime collapsed in 1992.

  • Inspired transnational jihadism (Al-Qaeda formed from this conflict).

• Impact: Seen as a symbol of Muslim victory over a superpower, fueling global jihadist ideology.

6. Taliban Takeover of Afghanistan (1996 & 2021)

• Background: Taliban emerged from Afghan madrassas during the civil war.

• Achievements:

  • 1996: Captured Kabul, established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

  • 2021: After 20 years of U.S. occupation, Taliban regained full control of Afghanistan as Western forces withdrew.

• Impact:

  • First modern jihadist movement to defeat both Soviet Union and U.S.-led coalition.

  • Reinstituted Sharia-based governance.

7. Chechen Jihad (First & Second Chechen Wars, 1994–2009)

• Background: Chechen separatists and Islamists fought Russian forces.

• Achievements:

  • First Chechen War (1994–1996): Russian withdrawal; Chechnya declared de facto independence.

• Impact: Short-lived success, but inspired global jihadists.

8. Islamic State (ISIS) Territorial Caliphate (2014–2019)

• Background: Splinter of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, declared a Caliphate in June 2014.

• Achievements:

  • Controlled large parts of Iraq and Syria, a territory the size of Britain.

  • Introduced advanced propaganda, global recruitment, and governance structures.

• Impact:

  • Lost most territory by 2019, but showcased modern jihadist state-building.

9. Boko Haram and ISWAP (Nigeria, Lake Chad Basin)

• Background: Began as a Nigerian Salafi movement (2002), evolved into jihadist insurgency.

• Achievements:

  • Controlled towns and villages across Northern Nigeria (2014 peak).

  • Kidnapped 276 Chibok girls, gaining global notoriety.

• Impact: Splintered into ISWAP, which remains a powerful regional insurgency.

10. Al-Shabaab in Somalia

• Background: Emerged from Islamic Courts Union, aligned with Al-Qaeda.

• Achievements:

  • Controlled Mogadishu and much of Somalia (2006–2011).

  • Continues to govern rural territories, carrying out international attacks.

• Impact: Long-term insurgency showing resilience despite U.S.-backed interventions.

Key Patterns of “Success”

• Territorial Control: Many movements established emirates or caliphates.

• Anti-Colonial Symbolism: Successes often framed as resistance to foreign powers.

• Ideological Appeal: Strong religious messaging + local grievances.

• Global Networking: Afghan jihad inspired movements worldwide.

• Resilience: Groups like Taliban, Al-Shabaab, and ISWAP survive for decades.