Sayyid Qutb PPT - Catholic Education Office Sydney

Significant Person
Sayyid Qutb
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Overview
1. Historical Context
2. Main Aspects of His Life
3. Impact on Islam: Its Development and
Expression
4. Sample HSC Question Exercise
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Historical Context
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Egypt in 19th Century
• Sayyid Qutb is an Egyptian
reformer and revivalist leader.
• Egypt was invaded by
Napoleon in 1798 – access to
Indian Ocean.
• With the counter-intervention
of the British, French were
expelled.
• In the chaotic aftermath,
Albanian Muhammad Ali (d.
1849) became the Ottoman
governor of Egypt.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Egypt in 19th Century
• Muhammad Ali, tried to
modernise Egypt.
• Seen as the father of modern
Egypt
• He built a new army,
factories with machinery,
public works.
• Suez Canal was opened in
1869.
• The whole Egyptian society
was altered.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Egypt in 19th Century
• Modernisation and rebuilding
bankrupted the country and led to
foreign debt administration in 1875.
• Dual control by the British and
French lasted from 1879-1880.
• Egyptian army took control of the
country in 1881.
• In 1882, Britain took over Egypt and
declared it a colony.
• Egypt became depended on Britain
for military and foreign policy.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
World Empires and Colonies 1920
• Almost the entire Muslim world was colonised by the
end of World War I.
• Ottoman Empire collapsed and caliphate was
abolished by the new secular Turkish Republic in 1924.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Establishment of Muslim Brotherhood
• In 1928, Muslim Brotherhood was
founded by Hasan al-Banna, who
called for restoration of Islamic
principles, return to the Qur’an and
Islamic piety.
• The Brotherhood established
clinics, schools, mosques and even
work opportunities.
• By 1948-49, Muslim Brotherhood
became the flag bearer of
grievances against British influence
and the failure of secular regime.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Rise of Military Regime
• Hasan al Banna was
assassinated in 1949.
• After WW II, Egypt failed to
stop the establishment of Israel
and Egyptian army was
defeated in 1948 by Israel.
• In 1952, Free Army Officers led
by Jamal Abd al-Nasser took
over the country.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Rise of military regime
• In 1956, Britain, French and
Israel attacked Egypt to
control the Suez Canal. The
Anglo-French forces had to
retreat with the help of
America and Russia.
• All this made General Nasser a
hero in the Arab world.
• Nasser crushed and
persecuted Muslim
Brotherhood.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
How Egyptians Saw It
• The abolishment of the Caliphate, was seen as a
major catastrophe to hit the Muslim world.
• The British colonisation of Egypt and its continued
British dominance was seen as a major catastrophe
to Egypt.
• The secularisation of Egypt was seen as a major
catastrophe to the Egyptians who believed Islam had
greater capacity to solve their spiritual and worldly
problems.
• Sayyid Qutb was such an individual.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Sayyid Qutb’s Life
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Early Life
• Born in 1906, Sayyid Qutb received a
traditional Muslim education. He
memorised the entire Quran by the
age of ten.
• He then studied at Dar al-‘Ulum in
Cairo, to receive a modern education.
• After completing BA degree, he
qualified as an Arabic-language
teacher in 1939.
• For six years he worked as a teacher
and an inspector of schools, but left his
job to devote his time to writing.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Early Writings
• Qutb wrote novels, poems and a book
called Literary Criticism: Its Principles
and Methodology.
• Early writings reflected a ‘Westerntinged’ outlook on cultural and literary
questions
• Early1940s, Qutb started to write on
religious subjects.
• He wrote “Expression of the Qur’an and
Scenes from the Day of Judgement”
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Qutb and the West
• In 1948, Qutb went to the USA to
complete his Master’s degree to
specialise in education and syllabus
techniques.
• The materialistic nature and lack of
spirituality in USA caused a
paradigm shift in Qutb.
• After his return to Egypt in 1951,
Qutb joined the Muslim Brotherhood
and became the chief editor of the
Brotherhood’s newspaper.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Changed Outook
• Some argue that his stay in USA
radicalised Qutb.
• Qutb was becoming increasingly
religious before he went to USA.
• The trip would have given him the
chance to compare and contrast
the Islamic ideals and the epitome
of Western success – the USA.
• The West was not perfect after all.
• In 1949, he published ‘Social Justice
in Islam’ – his first Islamic book.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Brotherhood vs Secular Regimes
• Islamic revivalist movements received
at the hands of authoritarian secular
regime in Egypt.
• The leader of the Muslim Brotherhood
Hassan Al-Banna was assassinated by
secret police in 1949.
• The situation became worse with the
rise of Jamal Abd al-Nasser to power
in 1952 and the ensuing crack down
on all religious movements
particularly the Muslim Brotherhood.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Secular elites vs Islamic movements
Secular
Ruling
Elite
• Try to modernise and Westernise
Muslim societies
• Heavily restrict political opposition
and Islamic movements
• Prone to corruption or at the very
least stifle proper development
Islamic
Movements
• Mainly trying to Islamise society
• Some movements aim to establish
Islamic state
• Too idealist and prone to
provocation
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Imprisonment
• Qutb wrote a comprehensive
modern commentary on the
Qur’an titled In the Shade of the
Qur’an.
• This first volume appeared in 1952.
• In this work he gave a literary and
social analysis of the Qur’an which
makes it unique and original in the
field.
• He was imprisoned in 1954.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Imprisonment
• After his release from prison, Qutb published a
controversial book, Milestones (1965).
• Milestones proposed a radical transformation of
Muslim society, not merely a reform.
• In his view, Egypt has become a jahiliya (ignorance)
society – went back to ignorance of prior to Islam.
• The primary task of Muslims were to migrate (hijra)
from this unislamic society and excommunication
(takfir) of the false Muslims and struggle to reconvert
Egypt back to true Islam.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Execution
• It was the publication of
Milestones that led to his rearrest with the accusation of
conspiracy against the
Egyptian President.
• He was tried and rapidly
sentenced to death based
upon many excerpts from his
book.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Execution
• He was asked to sign a petition
asking for mercy from President
Nasr. Qutb replied:
If I have done something wrong
in the eyes of God, I do not
deserve mercy, but if I have not
done anything wrong, I should
be set free without having to
plead for mercy.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
His Contribution & Impact
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Literary Contribution
• Qutb left behind a total of 24 books.
• Including several novels, several books on literary
arts’ critique, on the education of adults and
children, and several religious books
• His 30 volume commentary of the Qur’an is seen as
a valuable addition to the discipline of Qur’anic
commentary.
• This is a major work influencing understanding of
the Qur’an.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Religious Expression
• Qutb was seen as a hero and martyr of Islam.
• He is recognised by Muslim activists as a person who
suffered and sacrificed his life so that faith and
values of Islam could prosper in Egypt.
• In a way Qutb was a source of inspiration and
courage for Muslims who were also suffering
elsewhere in the Muslim world.
• His suffering and execution is dramatically invoked
in the rhetoric and writings of many Muslim revivalist
leaders in the second half of 20th century.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Qutb and Modern Interpretations
• Qutb has been interpreted in
academic circles as an
intellectual precursor to
fundamentalist movements of
the 1980s to present.
• In this view, Qutb is depicted as
a theorist of Islamic extremism.
• Terrorists who assassinated
Egyptian President Anwar
Sadat in 1981 were called Altakfir wa’l Hijra.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Qutb and Modern Interpretations
• There are some correlations;
• Qutb's advocacy of an Islamic theocracy as the
only legitimate state
• His justification of jihad in the conflict against
non-Islamic governments
• His uncompromising opposition to Western
culture and values
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Qutb and Modern Interpretations
• Context
• Colonisation
• Sudden change from Islamic to secular society
• Tension between secular and religious movements in
Egypt
• Imprisonment
• His imprisonment, isolation and torture have very
much shaped his thinking and ideology
Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad states ‘persecution of the
members of that society as well as Qutb’s arrest and
imprisonment led to a radicalisation of his thought’
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Said Nursi (d.1960)
Sayyid Qutb (d.1966)
Focus on the
internal first then
move upwards to
the society. No
violence, no
politics.
Focus on the external
(society/government)
then move down to
individual level. Must
struggle against all
apposition forces.
EDUCATION
REVOLUTION
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Top Down approach
Bottom Up approach
Different Revivalist Approaches
Summary
• Sayyid Qutb has to be studied within the social and
political context of his time.
• He has made significant contribution to modern
commentary of the Qur’an especially from a
sociological perspective.
• While there was a radical change to his thought, it is
questionable to call him the father of Islamic
fundamentalism.
• Rather, Qutb’s tragic execution is seen by Muslims as
unjust and he is believed to be a martyr. This made
him a symbol for all Islamic activists in the second
half of the 20th century.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
HSC Question Exercise on
Sayyid Qutb
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
HSC Question Exercise
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
HSC Question Exercise
Question 4 (a) – 3 Marks
Summarise the contribution of Sayyid Qutb to the
development and expression of Islam ?
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
HSC Question Exercise
Question 4 (a) – 3 Marks
Summarise the contribution of Sayyid Qutb to the
development and expression of Islam ?
• He has made significant contribution to modern
commentary of the Qur’an especially from a
sociological perspective.
― Huge impact on Muslims in better understanding their
faith.
• There is a radical change to Qutb’s thought in the
latter part of his life, which can influence certain
susceptible individuals. However, it is questionable to
call him the father of Islamic fundamentalism.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
HSC Question Exercise
Question 4 (b) – 4 Marks
Summarise the impact of Sayyid Qutb.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
HSC Question Exercise
Question 4 (b) – 4 Marks
Summarise the impact of Sayyid Qutb.
• Two major impacts:
1. Sayyid Qutb is seen as an archetype of the
contemporary Muslim who faces similar challenges
to what he did such as:
• oppressive regimes, materialism, lack of Islam in society,
lack of education etc.
• Many would share in his aspirations of bringing Islam
into all facets of life, not compromising on one’s
values, willing to speak up despite the challenges
one faces, even death.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
HSC Question Exercise
Question 4 (b) – 4 Marks
Summarise the impact of Sayyid Qutb.
• Two major impacts
2. Focusing on certain comments and claims that he
has made about Islam to justify acts of violence and
terror.
― Acts of jihad against non-Islamic government.
― Takfir (excommunication) of Muslims who are not
practising.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
HSC Question Exercise
Question 4 (c) – 8 Marks
All aspects of life are worship for a Muslim.
How well does this statement reflect the impact of
Sayyid Qutb?
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
HSC Question Exercise
Question 4 (c) – 8 Marks
All aspects of life are worship for a Muslim.
How well does this statement reflect the impact of
Sayyid Qutb?
- Worship in Islam means to be God-centred – to do
everything in life in a way that one thinks God would
be pleased. This Islam is a way of life.
- It could be said that Sayyid Qutb was responding the
removal of Islam from Egyptian society and even life
– highlighting that Islam should be a way of life.
- Qutb highlighted this through his life by dedicating
himself to doing what he thought would please God.
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
HSC Question Exercise
• When we consider the topics that Qutb wrote on, he
portrays the message that all aspects of life is worship
because the books address different facets of life.
Some examples are:
― The Islamic Concept and Its Characteristics
― In the Shade of the Quran
― The Characteristics and Values of Islamic Conduct
― Social Justice in Islam
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
Questions?
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb
THANK YOU
Significant Person – Sayyid Qutb