Syed Qutb was a prominent Egyptian Islamic thinker and writer who influenced many contemporary Islamists. He wrote several books on Islamic topics, some of which are available in PDF format online. Here are some quotes from his books:
- "Islam cannot accept any mixing with Jahiliyyah. Either Islam will remain, or Jahiliyyah; no half-half situation is possible." (Milestones)
- "The Qur'an is the only source from which we derive our understanding of Islam and its principles." (In the Shade of the Qur'an)
- "The Islamic society is a society of brotherhood in which all individuals are related to each other through their common bond with God." (Social Justice in Islam)
Some of his most famous books are:
- Milestones, a manifesto for establishing an Islamic state and society based on Quranic principles
- In the Shade of the Quran, a 30-volume commentary on the Quran
- Social Justice in Islam, a critique of secularism and capitalism and a call for Islamic socialism
- This Religion, a defense of Islam against its critics and a clarification of its main concepts
Syed Qutb was a secular and literary figure in Egypt until he gradually became a devout Muslim and an Islamist ideologue. His religious transformation was shaped by several factors, such as his early interest in Islamic books, his disillusionment with the Westernized culture of Egypt, his negative experience of living in the United States, his affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood movement, and his persecution by the Nasser regime. These events led him to adopt a vision of Islam that rejected secularism and called for a jihad against jahiliyyah, the state of ignorance and corruption that he saw in modern society.
Some of the milestones in Syed Qutb’s life are:
- 9 October 1906: Syed Qutb was born in a village near Asyut, Egypt
- 1948: He adopted an Islamist position and wrote Social Justice in Islam
- 1948-1950: He traveled to the United States and was appalled by its culture and society
- 1952: He joined the Muslim Brotherhood and became one of its spokespeople
- 1954: He was imprisoned by the Nasser regime and remained in jail for ten years
- 1952-1959: He wrote his most influential work, In the Shade of the Quran
- 1964: He wrote his most famous work, Milestones
- 29 August 1966: He was executed by hanging after being convicted of treason
Syed Qutb and Hassan al-Banna
Syed Qutb and Hassan al-Banna were two of the most influential Islamist thinkers and activists of the 20th century. They both belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood, a religious and political movement that sought to establish an Islamic state and society in Egypt and beyond. However, they had different views and approaches on some key issues.
Hassan al-Banna was the founder and leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. He was a charismatic preacher and organizer who advocated for social justice, Islamic education, and resistance against colonialism and corruption. He was also pragmatic and moderate in his political strategy, accepting democracy and nationalism as means to achieve his goals. He was assassinated in 1949 by agents of the Egyptian government.
Syed Qutb joined the Muslim Brotherhood in 1952, after returning from his two-year stay in the United States. He was a prolific writer and critic who expressed his Islamist views and denounced secularism and Westernization. He was also influenced by al-Banna's teachings and writings, especially on jihad and Islamic revivalism. However, Qutb developed a more revolutionary vision of Islam than al-Banna, rejecting democracy and nationalism as forms of jahiliyyah (ignorance) and calling for a violent jihad against all un-Islamic regimes. He was executed in 1966 after being convicted of treason.
This response is derived from the current web page context. A possible essay style answer is:
Syed Qutb and Hassan al-Banna are two of the most influential Islamist thinkers and activists of the 20th century. They both belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood, a religious and political movement that sought to establish an Islamic state and society in Egypt and beyond. However, they had different views and approaches on some key issues, such as secularism, democracy, nationalism, and jihad. In this essay, I will compare their influence based on three criteria: the popularity and reach of their writings, the continuity and diversity of their followers, and the relevance and appeal of their ideas.
The first criterion is the popularity and reach of their writings. Syed Qutb's books, especially In the Shade of the Quran and Milestones, have been widely read and translated into many languages. They have inspired many Islamist movements and groups, such as al-Qaeda, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad. These groups have adopted Qutb's revolutionary vision of Islam, which rejects secularism and calls for a violent jihad against all un-Islamic regimes. Qutb's writings have also influenced many individual Muslims who seek a pure and authentic form of Islam. Hassan al-Banna's writings, while influential in his time, have not been as widely disseminated or studied. His writings mainly focused on the practical aspects of organizing and mobilizing Muslims for social and political reform. He did not produce a comprehensive or systematic theory of Islam, nor did he write a commentary on the Quran. His writings have mainly influenced the members and supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, who share his moderate and pragmatic approach to Islam.
The second criterion is the continuity and diversity of their followers. Hassan al-Banna's legacy is mainly carried on by the Muslim Brotherhood, which is still the largest and most organized Islamist movement in the world. It has branches and affiliates in many countries, such as Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Turkey, Sudan, Syria, Palestine, and Yemen. It has also participated in electoral politics and social services in some of these countries, showing some flexibility and moderation in its approach. The Muslim Brotherhood has also spawned other Islamist movements that have diverged from its original ideology or strategy, such as Hamas in Palestine and Hizb ut-Tahrir in Central Asia. Syed Qutb's followers are more diverse and fragmented, ranging from Islamists to jihadists. They often disagree on the interpretation and application of Qutb's ideas, such as who is a true Muslim, what constitutes jahiliyyah, when is jihad obligatory, and how to establish an Islamic state. Some of Qutb's followers have formed groups such as al-Qaeda, Islamic Jihad, al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya, and ISIS. Others have formed non-violent groups that have engaged in preaching and education, such as Jamaat-e-Islami in Pakistan and India.
The third criterion is the relevance and appeal of their ideas. Hassan al-Banna's ideas are more relevant and appealing to those who seek a peaceful and gradual reform of Muslim societies based on Islamic principles. He advocated for social justice, Islamic education, and resistance against oppression. He did not reject modernity or Western civilization per se, but rather sought to integrate them with Islamic values. One of Hassan al-Banna's quotes that supports this claim is:
"We believe that Islam is an all-embracing concept which regulates every aspect of life, adjudicating on every one of its concerns and prescribing for it a solid and rigorous order" (The Message of Islam, p. 4).
Al-Banna did not reject modernity or Western civilization per se, but rather sought to integrate them with Islamic values. He believed that Islam could provide a comprehensive and coherent framework for addressing the challenges and opportunities of the modern world.
Another quote:
"We want the Islamic flag to be hoisted once again on high, fluttering in the wind, in all those lands that have had the good fortune to harbor Islam for a certain period of time and where the muzzein’s call sounded in the takbirs and the tahlis. Then fate decreed that the light of Islam be extinguished in these lands that returned to unbelief. And thus Andalusia, Sicily, the Balkans, the Italian coast, as well as the islands of the Mediterranean, are all of them Muslim Mediterranean colonies and they must return to the Islamic fold" (Toward the Light, p. 32).
He wanted to restore the glory and unity of the Muslim ummah (community) by reclaiming the lands that were once under Islamic rule. He also wanted to spread Islam to other regions and peoples through peaceful or militant means.
He also emphasized the spiritual and moral aspects of Islam over the legalistic and ritualistic ones. Syed Qutb's ideas are more relevant and appealing to those who seek a revolutionary change of Muslim societies based on a strict interpretation of Islam. He rejected secularism, democracy, nationalism as forms of jahiliyyah (ignorance) that corrupted Muslims' faith and identity. He also rejected modernity or Western civilization as sources of evil and decadence that threatened Muslims' survival. He also emphasized the legalistic and ritualistic aspects of Islam over the spiritual and moral ones.
In conclusion, Syed Qutb and Hassan al-Banna have had a significant impact on the Islamic world and beyond. However, they have different levels of influence based on different criteria. Syed Qutb is more influential than Hassan al-Banna in terms of the popularity and reach of his writings, while Hassan al-Banna is more influential than Syed Qutb in terms of the continuity and diversity of his followers and the relevance and appeal of his ideas. However, this is not a definitive answer, as different perspectives and contexts may lead to different conclusions.