He is a native Iraqi, born Ibrahim al-Samarrai some 50 miles north of Baghdad in the city of Samarra. Baghdadi claims to trace his lineage to the Prophet Muhammad, giving him added legitimacy as a religious leader. - http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/inside-story/articles/2014/7/7/isil-s-leader-emergesfromtheshadowswhoisabubakralbaghdadi.html