Hassan al-Banna and the Early Muslim Brotherhood The Muslim Brotherhood at its inception sought to provide an Islamic alternative to the allure of Westernization. Eschewing the selective imitation of the West characterized by previous generations of Islamic reformers in Egypt like Abduh and Afghani, Hasan al-Banna instead advocated Islam as a comprehensive and self-sustaining solution to the decline of Islamic civilization. Westernized Egyptians were regarded as a threat no less palpable than British colonialists. Hassan al-Banna, the founder of the Brotherhood, advocated the implementation of Sharia, and stressed that the revival of Islam was the only way forward in Egypt’s social and political regeneration. The Brotherhood’s program worked to recognize the importance of Sharia and its relevance to the social, economic, and political aspirations of many Egyptians. Hence al-Banna advocated a number of economic reforms that included land redistribution, the introduction of social welfare programs, and the replacement of foreign capital by local investment (Cleveland and Bunton, 2009). Under al-Banna’s stewardship, the Brotherhood developed into an organized movement, providing social services under the banner of Islam, and engaging in political resistance against the British and against Zionist colonizing agents. During World War II, al-Banna took the pro-Axis side, and was banished with his followers from Cairo. After this clash, political resistance ultimately gave way to sanctioning the use of violence through the group’s “Special Apparatus.” Whether or not this wing was sanctioned by al-Banna himself is disputed (Soage and Franganillo, 2010). During the Arab-Israeli war of 1948, Muslim Brotherhood dispatched battalions of volunteers to fight against the Jewish armed groups in Palestine (Rogan, 2009). The Muslim Brotherhood also participated in attacks against the British and was accused of fomenting riots and plotting against the government. Prime Minister Mahmud Sami al-Nukrashi declared martial law and signed a decree that dissolved the group on December 8, 1948. On December 28 of the same year, al-Nukrashi was gunned down by a member of the Brotherhood. Al-Banna’s attempts to distance himself from violence committed by members of his group failed, and al-Banna’s was gunned down on February 12, 1949, possibly by Egyptian secret police (Rogan, 2009). When all political parties were banned by Nasr in January 1953, the Muslim Brotherhood was allowed to continue in operation as an “organization.” Sayyid Qutb, the prominent Brotherhood ideologue, was even offered a leadership role in the Liberation Rally.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 09:56:36 +0000
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