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Renaissance in the Islamic World

Hasan al-Banna

Introduction and History of the Muslim Brotherhood:

Hasan al-Banna (1906 1949) founded the first nucleus of the MuslimBrotherhood in Ismailiyya in 1928. The secret organization soon spread throughout the towns of Egypt, Sudan,

Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and North Africa, and al-Banna became known

as Murshid alamm (the Supreme Guide).

The organization advocated a return to orthodox Islam, but also gave attentionto education, community development, training in industrial skills and social

welfare, and it even owned commercial companies.

Beginning in 1939 and during the war years, the Brotherhood came into conflictwith the government, urging for a caliphate. Later they urged a holy war against

the Zionists and pressed for full return to the laws of Islam.

Al-Banna was assassinated on Feb 12, 1949. The Brotherhood supported all independence movements, which contributed to

the success of the officers revolution of July 1952.

After the revolution, the Brotherhoods ideal of a theocratic state based onIslamic principles clashed with the more practical aims of the officers, who

believed that the renewal of the social, political and economic systems called for

a secular approach.

The Brotherhood tried to impose their viewpoint on the Egyptian Governmentand even interfered in the negotiations with the British.

The dismissal of Muhammmad Naguib, the nominal head of the EgyptianRevolution, brought Nasser to power and sealed the doom of the Brotherhood.

An abortive attempt to assassinate Nasser on October 26, 1954 led to the trialand execution of six Brethren and the imprisonment of many others.

Many of the Brotherhoods followers were won over by Nassers economic andsocial policy as well as his ability to gain the support of al-Azhar, the citadel of

Muslim orthodoxy.

Aided by special temporary conditions, the Brotherhood spread into practicallyevery Arab country. The organization mobilized the Arab masses against foreign

domination, appealing to their common religious feelings. It emphasized the

primacy of Islam while stressing in theory and practice the need for economic,

social and economic progress. It also organized the masses for political

purposes. However it failed politically it was unable to remold the classical Muslim idea

of government and to adapt it to modern requirements. It became a partisan

movement by competing with the government, was inflexible on matters of aw

and adopted an unrealistic view of international relations.

Al-Banna was certainly aware of the threat to Islamic values posed bymodernization and by identification with the West, and tried to incorporate

them into Islam.

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Sayyid Qutb tried to interpret social justice from an Islamic viewpoint. Until recently, writers and intellectuals glorified the principles of European

civilization and adopted Western style and manner. Today the wind has changed

and reserve/distrust has replaced it. Voices are calling for an Islamization.

Causes of the movement of Islamization:o The failure of the West

o Materialism and greed emergedo Perfection of Islam

o Discovery of the noble principles and rules of Islam, which are morepure, glorious, more complete than those discovered by social

theorists and reformers.

o Type of developmento The developed world of Western democracy and its principles are

correlated to the two world wars, a result of anarchy and disaster.

o The star of socialism and Communism shone with an increasingbrilliance.

o In the context of the Cold War, there were countries that emerged atthe crossroads not knowing which was better. This led people to allow

the necessary return of the nations and peoples to Islam.

Islam united the merits of all the developed regimes and avoids their sins. Intention of the Brotherhood

o Demonstration of excellence of Islamic principleso To demonstrate that islam will return her principal strength on earth.