The Life of Syed Qutb and Hasan al-Banna

..It was 5 o'clock in the evening, Hasan Al-Banna and his brother-in-law decided to leave.
Hasan Al-Banna and his brother in-law called a taxi. As they stoodwaiting for the taxi, they were suddenly shot by two men. Al-Banna washit by seven shots. Later, he was taken to hospital and they hadreceived orders from the Egyptian monarchy to not give him anytreatment where he died a slow death from the wounds, Hassan Al-Bannarealised that they had been ordered not to treat him and he made 3Dua's against the Monarchy, this monarchy was soon overthrown by JamalAbdul Nasir, bringing results which were least expected...
The date of his shahadah was; On February 12, 1949 in Cairo. May Allah haver mercy on him.
Sayyid Qutb and Zainab al-Ghazaliwould soon play key roles in the near future to continue the legacy ofHasan al Banna – through the Ikhwan al Muslimeen [Muslim Brotherhood].
Click this Link to see the Biography of the Hero; Hasan al Banna:
http://forums.islamicawakening.com/f40/lives-hasan-al-banna-syed-qutb-32280/
The Life of Syed Qutb:
Who was Syed Qutb?(سيد قط ب‎; October 9, 1906 – August 29, 1966)
A hero, who has influenced the minds, thoughts and ideologies of themajor Muslim fighters - in the path of Allah - around the world againstthe oppressive regimes. The hero we're going to talk about, if you wereto ask them - they would say they have been inspired and influenceddirectly by this man and his works. For example, if you were to askShaheed Abdullah Azzam, he would say that he was firstly inspired bythe Shaheed Syed Qutb (may Allah have mercy on him.) And that's whyit's important that we understand his life, his works, and the effectshe had on society, and how these thoughts and works permeated society.
His FamilyHe was born in a town in Egypt called Musha (in the city of Qaha[Co-ordinates:27°07′N 31°14′E]), and there is a difference of opinionon whether he was of Indian origin, or Egyptian origin. But hisimmediate family was rich due to a large inheritance they had receivedfrom their grandfather, but naturally - their inheritance wasdecreasing as they lived their life.
His father was a highly respected figure in the community, and was acentral and political figure to settle their disputes. He was also apractising man, so their family was practising Islam. His father wouldalways take him to the masjid and pray 5 times in the Masjid. Hisfather had also performed hajj, which was really difficult at that time.
Syed Qutb says that his father had implanted 'true fear of the last day'. This is shown through reading his explanations of these verses [of Judgment Day] in his tafsir, Fi Dhilal al Qur'an [Under the Shade of the Qur'an.]
His mother was also a highly respected and pious woman, she wouldgenerously give to the poor and the workers in their fields. His motherwould always listen to the Qur'an on the radio while looking at theworkers in the field. His mother was firm in her decision that her sonbe a man, and not like other children.
His uncles were Azhari scholars, and Syed Qutb's family would sit amongst them to hear them.
He had - excluding himself - 3 sisters and 1 brother. The oldest sisterwas called Nafeesah. In the future of Syed Qutb, she would be tortured,as well as her 2 sons; Rif'at and 'Azma.
Rif'at was the nephew of Syed Qutb, he was killed infront of SyedQutb's eyes in the future. 'Azma was tortured and beaten almost to thepoint of death.
'Aminah the next sister of Syed Qutb was engaged to one of the Ikhwaan [A revolutionary group – started by Hasan al Banna - which Syed Qutb would be involved in, in the future]brothers while he was in prison. The brother said to 'Aminah that hewould separate from her because he would spend so long in jail. Shesaid no, and waited for him. They finally got married when she was 50years old. In the end, her husband was killed by Anwar al Sadat thetyrant.
The 3rd person is his brother Muhammad Qutb, he is still alive today inSaudi Arabia, and he was imprisoned along with Syed Qutb, and almosttortured till death.
Syed's 4th sister Hamidah, her responsibility was to lookafter thefamilies and women of the Ikhwan, while their brothers were put insidethe prison by the Egyptian Government. She was the link between SyedQutb and the rest of the Ikhwan - while he was in prison. In 1965 shewas imprisoned with her brother and given 10 years of hard labour.
So we realise the family of Syed Qutb was Islamic. How many of us wouldbe able to take what the family of Syed Qutb went through?
Appearance
When you read the books of Syed Qutb, you imagine him to be a revolutionary man who was very large and aggressive.
One man when he visited Syed Qutb, said "I can imagine Syed Qutb to look like a thousand other people, except you."
Syed Qutb was of brown complexion, medium height, of a slim build, dueto the illness that overtook him in his young age, and later on inprison. Upon meeting him, he was calm, collected and tranquil.
His Childhood
As a child, he would pray the Salah/prayers5 times in the Mosque with his father. He would attend the circles ofthe Azhari scholars. He would help the poor and oppressed and aid them.
Once his Qur'an teacher left the school and made his own Madrassah due to an argument with the school. His parents told the teacher they would send Syed to the madrassah, and so he went there.
Butwhen he was there, he saw that the teacher wasn't teaching properly,and the children were not learning, and he was not getting any benefitout of this. So he asked his mother for permission to go back to theold school. The people of the madrassah would make fun out of the people who went to the old school.
So Syed Qutb said that he would prove them wrong. At the age of 8, hestarted to memorize a third of the Qur'an at home per year. So he hadmemorized all of the Qur'an by the age of 11 (within 3 years.)
SyedQutb also wanted to show everyone that he was brave. Once his mothertook him to his cousins house, all the way to the other side of thevillage. It was the middle of the night, and his mother needed to getsomething from home. She said that she had to go, and that she would beback. Syed Qutb said "No, I will go, don't fear". He was only11 years old, it was the middle of the night, no street lights, and heran across the village, but half way through - fear overtook him. Thiswas the area where people said there were many Jinn, and it wascompletely dark. He stood still and in fear.
A man came to rescue him and saw him and asked him what he was doing here. Syed Qutb said that "I'm here looking for the jinn, I want to scare them so they go away."
He was very intelligent from a young age.Once an Azhari scholar was teaching surah al Kahf in the presence of Syed Qutb, and recited;
قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ ۚ فَارْتَدَّا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا(Surah al Kahf 18:46)Qala thalika ma kunna nabgh, fartadda 'alaa aatharihim-ma Qasassa.
Syed Qutb asked why Allah never said Nabghee [with a letter 'Yaa' at the end, since this is the normal way it is really said in the Arabic language.]
The Shaykhreplied that Allah said it this way to make it easier for pronunciation- for the recitor. And this Shaykh didn't know that it was a child -Syed Qutb - who had asked the question!
This shows his knowledge in the arabic language, and his attentiveness to the Qur'an from such a young age
SyedQutb from a young age would save up his money for a man calledAmsaalih, who used to sell books around the local villages. He wouldhave a big collection of books, and another small collectionspecifically for Syed Qutb. If Syed never had the money, he would tellhim that I don't have the money now, so let me borrow it and I'll giveit you next time you come around. And Amsaalih would let him do that.
At the age of 12, he had his own library collection of 25 books, even though books were really expensive during that time.
He would imitatethe scholars by reading the books, and then give lectures to the restof the village. If any women needed any information, they would waittill Syed Qutb came back from school, and ask him to share theknowledge he had to them. In many occasions he would be shy because hewas a young man, but in some occasions he would go and teach theknowledge he had to the people who asked him.
The Early Secret Meetings
In 1919, SyedQutb was 13 years old. He would sit with early people who wanted tocause a revolution against the Egyptian Government due to theiroppression. He would sit with them and hear what they had to say, andthen come back to his village and share what they had discussed in themeetings with his villagers. These would be his first experiences inRevolution.
His Education
He later moved to Cairo,because his mother was very upset at Syed's father who was verygenerous on spending with the children. But his generosity made himsell alot of his land, to the extent that they even had to finally selltheir own house. So his mother told Syed to go to Cairo to get a joband buy the land back.
She sent him to train tobecome a teacher, and in 1924 he got a Diploma in Teaching. But hewasn't happy with this and he wanted to go into a university of Dar al 'Ulum,but to get into this, he needed to do a 4 year Preparatory Course –which he did. After succeeding in this, he graduated in 1929, he thenwent to the Dar al 'Ulum and graduated in 1933. He got a First Class Degree in Arabic Language and Literature.
In this Dar al 'Ulum university, he also achieved the following units; Shari'ah [Islamic law], Arabic and comparative language, Logic, philosophy, History, and Political economics, aswell as other units.
This is a refutation to those who say he did not study the religion officially, since the Dar al 'Ulum taught Shari'ah properly, and it was a very respected place.
In 1933, after he got hisDegree, he was employed by the Ministry of Education. In 1940, he wasEditor and Translator for the Ministry.
If we study his earlypolitical life, we see that he belonged to the party of Hizb al Wafd,till 1942. This brought him into inevitable conflict with his superiorsin the Ministry of Education because of his anti-government views. Hethen he separated from the Hizb al Wafd due to some disputes. In 1944,he was transferred to the role of School Inspector because they did notlike his political views. They felt that he would change his politicalviews after going to America, but this infact influenced him to becomemore focused on Islam in the near future.
He became an editor in-chief of two journals; al 'Alam al 'Arabi (the Arab World) – through which he lost his position due to editorial disagreements, and al Fikr al Jadeed(the New Thought.) – Which was based on an Islamic society free ofcorruption, tyranny and foreign domination, and this was banned afteronly six issues.
So he formed a new party butsoon also left that in 1945 because he felt that every party was doingsomething for their own gain instead of for the people or an Islamiccause.
So he started to writeindependently and give lectures against the injustice of thegovernment, and continued to do this until 1953.
1948-1950 - he was sent tostudy the methodology of education and teaching in the USA. As soon ashe came back, he resigned from the ministry after all those years ofstudy, as he differed with them in their political activities.
Syed Qutb after having such an Islamic upbringing was affected by his own period of Jahiliyyah(times of Ignorance.) This lasted from 1935-1940, when he was in Cairoand university. This is where he began to read on Western Civilizationand the principles of Materialism, and these concepts raised severedoubts in his mind about the religion.
He lived in doubt worry,fear, pain, rebelliousness, and he always wanted to know; what was thesecret of life? He became so confused. He said about himself that; Hewould often cry, scream, and wish death would take him away from allthe pain and contradiction. He lost all peace, and tranquillity in hislife.
He recorded all these periods in his poem called "The Unknown Coast. [al Shaati' al Majhool]".( I.e. Iam standing on a coast, and I don't know what sea I'm standing next to,how big is it? I don't know its name; I don't know what this life isabout...)
How did Syed Qutb then begin to become an Islamic personality?
When he discovered the religion, he left the world of ignorance and darkness, and joined the religion of Da'wah [calling to Islam], and Revival. He was looking for the secret of life and he found it.
His journey started when hestudied the Qur'an in a literal way, and he slowly began to understandthe principles lined in the religion. Then something happened to him inAmerica to remove his doubts.
He says; that while he wasgoing to America, he was on the boat/ferry, and he saw the way the boathe was travelling in - was rocking in the huge sea – all under thecontrol of Allah without it sinking or capsizing. At that point herealised the power of Allah. He said Eman [Belief] entered into hisheart due to this.
His second scenario was inSan Francisco, when he went on top of a mountain, and he could see thewhole of creation in front of him, and he realised the beauty andharmony that existed amongst the creation as a whole. He said that, thesweetness of Eman hit him.
He took the Qur'an asguidance to his life, and the harmony between man and the universe. Sohe involved himself deeply in the Qur'an.
We can look at 3 steps towards his Islam;
His First step was to Literal Study the Qur'an. He started a New Qur'an Library Project - where he did a literal understanding of the Qur'an.
Shaykh Ali Tantawi at thattime said about Syed Qutb, that Allah gave him a key to understandingthe expressions and meanings of the Qur'an, a key which Allah has nevergiven to anyone before him.
He (Syed Qutb) says about his experience with the Qur'an;
الحياةفي ظلال القرآن نعمة، نعمة لا يعرفها إلا من ذاقها، نعمة ترفع العمروتباركه وتزكيه، فإذا من الله عليك بالحياة في ظلال القرآن فترة من الزمانذقت فيها من نعمته ما لم تذق قط في حياتك
"Life in the Shade of the Qur'an is a wonderful blessing, whichno-one knows except the one who has tasted it. It increases the life ofa person and gives them blessings in their life and purifies them intheir life, and praise is for Allah that Allah has given me a lifeunder the shade of the Qur'an.
A small part of the time I have tasted under it a blessing which I have never tasted before. "
The Qur'an then began toimpact his thoughts and ideologies in refuting Communism, andCapitalism which were affecting the Egyptian society at that time.
His second step was his beginning to write different books, like; Al-'adala al-Ijtima'iyya fi-l-Islam (Social Justice in Islam) in 1949 in the USA, The America that I have Seen (after his return from America to Egypt), Ma'alim fi-l-Tariq (Milestones), as well as Fi Dhilal al Qur'an[In the Shade of the Qur'an] within prison (Some of these books can bedownloaded and will be linked to at the end of the biography insha Allah.) Ma'arakat al-Islam wa'l-Ra's Maliyya (The Battle Between Islam and Capitalism), in 1951.
His final stage was hiscomplete and comprehensive understanding of the religion and Ikhwanimovement, and the movements' role in affecting all aspects of life. Inthis stage - he most of all understood his duty to Allah, to be awitness for mankind upon the truth of Islam, to spread the religion. Herealised the life he needed to lead.
The Revolution of Abdul Nasir
In Egypt, 1952, a revolutiontook place. Jamal Abdul Nasir the tyrant became the leader of thecountry. This would affect the Ikhwani movement in the near future agreat deal, so let's look at a brief history of the revolution and howit took place.
Ikhwan al Muslimeen [theMuslim Brotherhood] had a plan in place to cause a revolution againstthe government which had killed Hasan al Banna. Their plan was toinfiltrate the army and to gain officers of the army into the ranks ofthe Ikhwan. These officers would be a secret party in the Ikhwan whocould support the movement secretly, and they would be under theMilitary command, under the lead of a man called Mahmood al-Labeeb. Hewas directly in charge of the officers who got involved with the Ikhwan.
Two active men in this organisation were Jamal Abdul Nasir, and a man called Abdul Ra'uf.
In 1944, the first secret Military circle was gathered by the Ikhwan to support their cause.
In 1946 the Officers gavepledge to the special organization – 'the Ikhwan Officers club'. No-oneknew about this pledge since it was classified, and solemn secretpledge – a pledge of life and death.
They agreed to avenge thedeath of Hasan al Banna who had been assassinated by the Egyptiangovernment and to topple their regime. They all promised to keep thisplan a secret and not to let it escape to others. Jamal Abdul Nasir waswithin this circle as one of the officers who had pledged in secrecy.
They also pledged to trainthe other Ikhwani civilians so that they could fight the English – whohad colonised Egypt at that time - after they achieved theassassination of the Egyptian king. For security reasons, they changedtheir name from 'the Ikhwan Officers club' to 'the Free Officers'.
Thensomething happened. Jamal Abdul Nasir and Abdul Ra'uf who were the mostactive officers had a disagreement, so there became a split between thetwo. Abdul Nasir wanted to involve other non Ikhwanis into this secretorganisation, whether they were practising or non practising muslims.Whereas Abdul Rauf said that they will not get anyone involved except apractising Muslim who is part of the ikhwan.
Abdul Rauf was travellingaway, and the leader of the Military command Mahmood al Labeeb becameill. He was on his deathbed and he didn't know who to give thedocuments (profiles of the Ikhwan etc), the secret plans, and thetreasure/wealth of the Ikhwani movement to. The only one there wasJamal Abdul Nasir, so Mahmood al Labeeb handed all this down to AbdulNasir, and he in effect became the new leader of the 'the Freeofficers'.
Syed Qutb's Role in Aiding the Revolution
At this time Syed Qutb wasnot a member of the Ikhwan. He like everybody else thought Abdul Nasirwas a good man who was enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, andfighting against the corrupt government of their time. But the realitywould be alot different.
The articles of Syed Qutbwere against the government which assassinated Hasan al Banna, and hisarticles were many. It was due to these articles that many Officersfrom the army were joining the Ikhwan movement, although Syed Qutbwasn't himself directly involved with the Movement. 'The Free Officers'would distribute his articles to potential members to spread theircall. Some of these Officers – including Abdul Nasir – would go to thehouse of Syed Qutb to ask him for ideas about the Revolution. One couldsay that he was the main think-tank behind the Revolution. His ideaswere permeating to the rest of the people in the revolution.
Abdul Nasir's Betrayal to the Ikhwan
In 1950, AbdulNasir left the Officers and made his own organisation with othermembers of the army. The special branch of the Ikhwan (especially AbdulRa'uf) didn't want to do this, so he split from them with his ownorganisation. But he continued to keep contact with the Da'wah [Religious call]wing of the Ikhwani movement. Keep in mind that the Da'wah wing werealmost a separate entity from the Military wing due to the great dangerthat was posed if the Officers were exposed, so even from the startthere was little communication between the two parties. So Abdul Nasircould easily take advantage of this little communication by keeping hisconnection with the Da'wah wing, while also having his own Officers' todo with as he wishes, along with the treasures and information of theIkhwans' passed onto him by Muhammad al Labeeb.
The head of the Da'wah wingwas Hassan Hudaibi, and Abdul Nasir kept contact with him saying thatwe would help you in your cause. We have Generals and Officers, and wewill help you when we get in power. Abdul Nasir promised to thebrothers of the Da'wah wing, that if they help him in the Revolution –he will implement the Shari'ah [Islamic law] completely, and would be in full co-operation with the Ikhwan and aid them.
The Da'wah wing – due tolittle communication – didn't know that Abdul Nasir had separated fromthe real Ikhwani 'Free Officers' and they were unaware of his ownnationalistic group of officers preparing for the Revolution.
The Revolution happens
So Abdul Nasir began theRevolution and with the help of the Ikhwan, he took down the monarchyand himself came into power as King of Egypt (Zainab al Ghazali wouldsay he was the new Pharoah of Egypt).
The Ikhwanis' includingHassan Hudaibi then came to Abdul Nasir, and reminded him of all theconditions they had set before. He was shocked when Abdul Nasirrejected every single condition put forward; he wasn't going toimplement Shari'ah, nor was he goingto help or support the Ikhwan
So Hassan Hudaibi said to Abdul Nasir, "We still accept you as a Reformist movement". Hassan still saw good in Abdul Nasir, and said; "If you do good – you do so for the people, if not we will advise you and correct you as Allah wills."
Abdul Nasir still hadn'texposed his full plans, and so Syed Qutb would meet up with Abdul Nasirand the Officers, and they would discuss how to stay firm on thisRevolution without harm coming to them. Syed Qutb would sometimes stayfor upto 12 hours a day to discuss the plans with them in detail.
Syed Qutb was still not a member of Ikhwan and still thought well of Abdul Nasir.
Abdul Nasir set up an organisation called 'Tahreer' [Freedom],and the reason for this organisation was because the Ikhwan were veryactive in the field of Da'wah around Egypt. Abdul Nasir knew this, andhe wanted to have another organisation which would also be great innumber, and oppose the Islamic movement of the Ikhwan. To furtherstrengthen his cause – he would try assassination attempts of majorfigures in the Ikhwani movement. (An instance occurred where Zainab alGhazali had a major car accident, and this was done by some of AbdulNasir's agents to kill her – especially since she was so influential inthe da'wah [Islamic call]. (This account can be read further in her own book 'Return of the Pharoah' ))
Syed Qutb didn't know this was the plan of Abdul Nasir, so he helped him for a whole month in supporting this movement of Tahreer. After a month he realised that this was an evil plan of Abdul Nasir, so he quickly separated himself from supporting the 'Tahreer' organisation.
Abdul Nasir tried to bribe Syed Qutb to come back into this organisation, saying "We will give you whatever position you want in the government, whether it's the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Arts etc." But because Syed Qutb now understood the reality of Abdul Nasir's corruption – he refused every single one of his offers.
Causes for Syed Qutb Joining the Ikhwan
Syed Qutb didn't personallymeet Hasan al Banna, but he had heard about him and his cause. He mighthave thought that it wasn't such a strong movement, or that it was likeother movements which were doing it for their own personal gain, so hedid not join that movement while Hasan al Banna was alive.
Sayyid Qutb did not have anyformal or informal connections with the Ikhwan. Although he was awareof their activities and the efforts made by Hasan al-Banna, it seemsthat he was not convinced, until his time spent in the United States,that the Ikhwan were the effective tool by which Egyptian society couldbe changed.
While Syed Qutb was inAmerica, the Ikhwanis' best men fought in Palestine in Allah's cause,but when they returned back to Egypt – they were all rounded and takeninto prison by the king (this was before Abdul Nasir's rule).
Syed Qutb writ a book called Al-Adala al-Ijtima'iyya fi'l-Islam (Social Justice in Islam), 1949 during this time. In the beginning he said 'to all the brothers fighting in the way of Allah.'So the Ikhwani's felt that this book was written specifically for them,and the book was distributed around prison. During this time, Hasan alBanna read the book and said; "These are our ideas, and it should be that he [Syed Qutb] is one of us (i.e. part of the Ikhwan)."
When in America, Syed Qutbgot to know of Zionism [Jews for the state of 'Israel'], and the hateof the Americans for Islam. Sayyid Qutb was in hospital in the UnitedStates when he witnessed the joy of the people there at theassasination of Hasan al-Banna. He was told, when he inquired about thereason for this joy and celebration, that the greatest enemy of theWest had been killed.
From that moment Sayyid Qutbdecided that he would join the Ikhwan as soon as he returned to Egypt.He realized that the colonial powers would not consider a person, andhis organization, to be their archenemy unless that person was a strongand efficient person whose activities genuinely threatened the statusquo and the colonialists' interests in the area.
He also realised how much theAmerican's hated Islam after the assassination of Hasan al Banna. Healso came in contact with a British spy [John Hersdon] there who wassaying that 'the only thing stopping Egypt from becoming like Western Civilization is the Ikhwani movement'.John Hersdon had gone to the Muslim world, pretending to be a Muslimand even marrying a Muslim woman, and afterwards returning back toAmerica. He said to Syed Qutb (while pretending to be Muslim), I willtranslate your book Al-Adala al-Ijtima'iyya fi'l-Islam (Social Justice in Islam) for $10,000.
He also had a massive filefilled with information on the activities and speeches of the Ikhwan alMuslimeen movement, from the beginning of Hasan al Banna's activities,uptill his death. He knew all the secrets of the Ikhwan movement.Hesaid to Syed Qutb, "Forget your plans to fight the British, because if you fight them, America will take their place". He said 'forget the corrupt organisation of the Ikhwan'. Syed Qutb realised that this man was a spy who is trying to fool him.
A Return to Egypt to Join the Ikhwan
In 1953, he came back toEgypt, and decided to join the Ikhwan. His experiences in America madehim realise the strength of such a group, encouraging him to study hisreligion more and dedicate his life to it by joining the Movement.
When he joined the Ikhwan(1953), it was a time of great fear and trial - when Abdul Nasir wasfighting the Ikhwan, a time when the Ikhwan were being gathered fromall over Egypt and put in prison. This is like the wealthy Jew [called Mukhayreeq]who became Muslim in the Battle of Uhud during the life of the Prophet,when the battle was at its severest – he gave his wealth, and joinedthe battle and died for Allah's cause.
Syed Qutb became fullyinvolved in the Ikhwan movement and gave a weekly newspaper andlectures in Islamic study circles for the Ikhwan. He even went to Syriaand got involved with the Ikhwani movement there to spread his ideas.He was then soon imprisoned by Abdul Nasir's regime
The Ikhwan Movement is Dissolved
In 19th January1954, the Ikhwan movement was dissolved by the government. Many of theIkhwanis' were imprisoned, aswell as their leaders. But due to hugeprotests by the public – they were freed.This experience only madeSyed Qutb stronger in the Islamic cause, and he continued to make evenmore articles against Abdul Nasir's government, influencing others tojoin and support the cause.
Syed Qutb is Jailed for the First time
Then Abdul Nasir made up astory that the Ikhwan intended to assassinate him, so they gathered upthousands of the Ikhwan in October. This was the real first trial ofthe Ikhwan. Before the trial of Syed Qutb, they tortured him and beathim severely. They made him sit on a chair for hours upon hours anddays, without food and drink. They would then pour water infront of himand ask him 'do you want water'? They would then make him stand up for hours after this, and whip him and beat him, even though he was just a frail man.
He became ill, his lungsstarted to bleed. He got arthritis, bronchitis, and many of hisillnesses became more intense due to torture.
In the court case, they said to him – you look tired?Now if any of the Ikhwanis' were to tell in court the torture theyreceived in prison, they would get even more punishment afterwards.
Syed Qutb replied; "yes, they made me stand up for hours."
To show the torture thatthe Ikhwanis' had received, he suddenly lifted his shirt from his backto show everyone the injuries he had received on his body fromwhipping, and beating.
He was taken back to jail andgiven a punishment of 15 years hard labour, of which he would do 10years, due to his ill health. However, Zainab al Ghazali said that itwas likely because they wanted to assassinate him once he was out ofjail. However, an assassination did not occur
When he was in prison,everyone respected him. Even the worst of criminals had respect forhim, even the prison guards did. And he would affect their minds in apositive way. When he received food from his family, he woulddistribute it to other prisoners.
After he came out of prison, he realised that the Ikhwani movement was dissolved, it had died out.
Reviving the Ikhwani Movement – from inside Jail
A man called Abdul FattahIsma'il tried to restart the Ikhwani jamaa'ah [group]. He spoke to SyedQutb about this while Syed Qutb was in jail. For 10 years Syed Qutbthought about the organisation, should we re-organise this jamaa'ah? Sohe thought he has to do something because the society is becominginfluenced by Secularism. So Syed Qutb became the leader of the Ikhwanimovement while being in jail.
Plans
But this time he had newideas and new plans. His idea was that the Islamic groups were focusingon a local political level, whereas the whole of society needed areform of roots.
The society as a whole could benefit from learning the correct 'Aqeedah[beliefs], and they would naturally take out the un-Islamic government.Meanwhile, a group of Muslim brothers could unite - who had firmknowledge in 'Aqeedah and manners, who could protect thejamaa'ah [group] from oppression. This would be necessary since AbdulNasir was not established firmly in 'Aqeedah and manners, and this is what led to him breaking his promises of establishing true Islam within his rule.
These Muslim brothers wouldbe a defense force for the Ikhwan al Muslimeen [Muslim brotherhood], sothat if anyone from the government intended to harm the Muslims, theywould be able to assassinate the prime minister or officers, andretaliate against any aggression. Syed Qutb began to lead the Ikhwanbased on this model.
The Plans are Discovered
This whole model and the plans of Syed Qutb were discovered, due to spies being everywhere.
The ones involved in theIkhwan – their names were given to Abdul Nasir. So he was now fullyaware who was involved in the new Ikhwani movement.
The plan of Syed Qutb - forthe Muslim brothers - to retaliate against any aggression - wassupposed to be the last stage of the new revolution. However, this nowbecame a priority due to Abdul Nasir being aware of who was involved.So the Ikhwan quickly came together and began to plan which brotherswould get involved in defending the cause. There was even a plan thatweapons would come from Saudi Arabia to aid them in their cause, butSyed Qutb rejected this because he realised that this was a plan fromthe secret services to try to expose the movement in their 'betrayal'to the government.
Then in 1965, Jamal AbdulNasir announced in Moscow [due to his links with Communism], thatIkhwan was a secret organization that planned to overthrow him. So manyof the Ikhwan were put into trial in 1965 again, and many wereimprisoned and tortured.
The Dream of Syed Qutb
During this time, Syed Qutbwas temporarily freed from imprisonment due to health conditions.However, he was still firm in his lead for the Ikhwani cause.
The journalist Mahmudar-Rakaabi narrated a strange discussion that took place betweenhimself and ash-shaheed Sayyid Qutb at his house before hisimprisonment.
Ar-Rakaabi recalls:I said to him, 'Praise be to Allah upon well-being - whatever Allah wills - your health is good, all you need now is a bride?'
So Sayyid laughed very much and said, 'Which bride are you referring to [in this world or the next?]' I said, 'We were created for both of them.'
So we spoke for a while, then he (Syed Qutb) suddenly asks me, 'Canyou interpret dreams? For I had a vision last night that a red snakewrapped itself around me and then tightened itself on me. Then I wokeup that hour and couldn't go back to sleep.'
I said, 'My sir! That's agift, to be presented to you by one of the believers, wrapped with ared ribbon, and if you wish I will present it to you now, so take itand continue with your sleep.'
He (Qutb) said, 'Why can't the interpretation of the dream be that I am the gift presented to the believers?'
I said, 'Isn't the existence of the righteous more beneficial for the Islamic Da'wah?'
He said, 'Not always. Infact, sometimes their departure is more beneficial! Although, I am notintending my own destruction, but we must intend firmness in ourstance, knowing that the firmness in stance can bring aboutdestruction.'
I said, 'O Man! Don't be pessimistic like that, for people should aim to be balanced in everything.'
He said: 'You will come to know.
Syed Qutb is taken to Court again
Syed Qutb was caught once again by the secret services for his role in the Ikhwani movement.
When Syed Qutb was asked in aninvestigation of the new plans, in his interview – he confessed toevery single thing, including him being the leader of the organisation.He wanted to accept the blame for every single thing instead of puttingthe blame on the other Ikhwanis.
Even infront of his interrogators, he took the blame for everything.Syed Qutb was to face a second new trial.
Before being taken to court,he was put in prison. Before being taken to court, his nephew Rif'atwas killed in front of his own eyes.
Zainab al Ghazali was also putin jail since she was a leading member of the Ikhwani movement. Shereports that she went past the jail cell of Syed Qutb because sheneeded to go to the toilet, and as she walked past the cell of SyedQutb, she saw a cloth which covered his cell whilst he was beingtortured. Some wind came and raised the cloth, and he saw Zainab alGhazali. The prison guards then blamed him and said 'you raised the cloth yourself'.So they started beating him, and beating him. She said that after shereturned from the toilet, she walked past his cell and they were stillbeating him, and he was saying 'I had no plans to talk to her'.
The doctors said his weak lungs had collapsed, and said 'dont make him run', so the interrogators would whip him and force him to run. He then collapsed and got a heart attack.
His Support for his fellow Prisoners
Sometimes Syed Qutb would seeother Ikhwanis who had been tortured and he would smile at them to makethem feel better. If he saw them being tortured he would cry and makedu'a [pray to God] for them.His most famous poem is entitled 'From Behind Bars' which begins with the following verses:
أخي أنت حرٌ وراء السدود * أخي أنت حرٌ بتلك القيودإذا كنت بالله مستعصما * فماذا يضيرك كيد العبيد
My brother, you are free behind these gates.My brother, you are free within these chains.For if upon Allah you do rely,The intrigues of his slaves can bring no pains
He also said in some poetry to the Ikhwan;
أخي فامض لا تلتفت للوراء * طريقك قد خضبته الدماءو لا تلتفت ههنا أو هناك * و لا تتطلع لغير السماء
My brother, do not look back * Your path has been covered in blood.And do not look look here or there * And do not look except to the sky.
['Diwan Sayyid Qutb']
He knew that if the Ikhwanis'told any news reporters about the torture they received, they would bepunished even more. So he himself would tell the news reporters aboutthe punishments they received, and for this he would get beaten evenmore.
The Judge's fear of Syed Qutb
There was a man called Fawad Dajawi- the coward, who claimed to be a judge (even though he was an ignorantcommoner), he would make judgments upon the Ikhwanis' in court. To showhow much of a coward he was, when he went to fight the Jews in 1956,and the Jews surrounded the Muslims, he joined the side of the Jewsagainst the Muslims. So the Jews let him go due to his betrayal of theMuslims. This man was the judge against Syed Qutb, and he was extremelyrude to him.
Syed Qutb would look at FawadDajawi, and had no respect for him at all. He would look at him withsuch a harsh stare, that Dajawi became terrified of Syed Qutb. So incourt, Syed Qutb took the blame for everything for the Ikhwanimovement.
Syed Qutb was sentenced, andhe knew that his execution was going to be near. So he sent lettersfrom prison to his family during this period.
Human Rights Organisations,and many leaders [including Shaykh bin Baz) said that Syed Qutb shouldbe released. When Malik Faisal [the king of Saudi Arabia], said heshould be freed, Abdul Nasir became very angry and said that we will dothe execution the next day.
His sister Hamidah was told toask forgiveness from Abdul Nasir, and say that it wasn't you who wasresponsible for this Ikhwani revolution. And that if you admit to this,then all charges will be lifted from you and you will be safe and free.
So Syed Qutb said;
والله لو كان هذا الكلام صحيحا لقلته ولما استطاعت قوة على وجه الأرض أن تمنعني من قوله. و لا أقول كذبة أبدا
Iswear in the Name of Allah, if this "thing or talk" [of another groupdoing the revolution] was correct, then I would say it and there willbe no force on the face of the earth that can prevent me from doing it.And I will not speak a lie, ever.
They tried to seek pardon from Syed Qutb in any way they could, but he didn't change his word.
Syed Qutb said to his sister.إن رأيتي الوالد المرشد حسن هديبي فبلغيه عني السلام و قولي له لقد تحمل سيد أقسى ما يتحمله بشر حتى لا تمس بأدنى سوء
He said, because Hasan Hudaibi was still really in charge of the Ikhwan al Muslimeen."If you see Hasan Hudaibi, the guide of the Ikhwan [brotherhood].Then give him Salam (the greeting of Peace), and tell him that Syed hasfaced as much punishment as the human can suffer, so that you and thebrotherhood as a whole does not suffer."
They then came to him again on the last point before he was going to be executed, and said; Just say sorry you're sorry for what you did and you will be free.
So Syed Qutb said;
لن أعتذر عن العمل مع الله."I will never seek any excuse for work for the sake of Allah."
They told him tosay just a line or a few words to Abdul Nasir to say that I'm sorry forwhat i did, and you won't be executed, and you will be free.So Syed Qutb said;
إن إصبع السبابة الذي يشهد لله بالوحدانية في الصلاة ليرفض أن يكتب حرفا يقر به حكم طاغية"Indeed this finger which testifies the Oneness of Allah in salah[prayer], it refuses to agree on anything – in support - of thisoppressive regime."
The Day of Syed Qutb's Execution
Generally prisoners would not know when they are due to be executedbecause of public sensitivities. Consequently, the date of theexectution of Syed Qutb was kept hidden even from Syed Qutb himself. Onthe day of his execution the military officer entered Syed Qutb's cellunder the pretext that he has been ordered to change his cell quarters.However ash-shaheed Syed Qutb knew that this was not just another cellchange and said, 'I know where you are taking me, for the Prophet Muhammed came to me in my dream and told me (about today), so take me. '
So they took Syed Qutb to the place of his execution. Everybody saw himwith a beaming smile on his face, he was extremely happy and waving tothe prison guards.
He was saying before his execution;I am waiting for this moment.
And he said;
I am living a life that I have never lived before. I am feeling thetrue meaning of Emaan [true Belief]. I fully understand 'Aqeedah(Islamic belief) as its meant to be understood more than ever before.
I am waiting for my shahadah (martyrdom), and I have never lived a life better than the life I am living right now.
This is what he said before he was about to be executed."On receiving his death sentence in court, Sayyid Qutb said, 'Alhamdullilah(all praise is for Allah) I performed Jihad (struggle) for fifteenyears until I earned this Shahadah (martyrdom).' "His face was beaming, as was recorded on the cameras and TV.
This was the reality of life, and he was expecting it, looking pleasedto meet Allah. He knew that this was the truth, knowing that if youwork sincerely in your life for the sake of Allah – then your end nodoubt – will be shahadah (martyrdom) in Allah's/God's cause. This is what he had been waiting for, for so long.
On the 29th August 1966, with Abdul Fattah Isma'il,and Muhammad Yusuf Hawash (who were also great leaders of the Ikhwan),they were all hanged, may Allah have mercy on them.
And relate to them the story of the two sons of Adam...
On that day, the Imam of the Ikhwan al Muslimeenin the Jumu'ah [Friday congregation] prayer recited from the Qur'anSurah Maa'idah (5:27) on the two sons of Adam;َاتْلُعَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ابْنَيْ آدَمَ بِالْحَقِّ إِذْ قَرَّبَا قُرْبَانًافَتُقُبِّلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِمَا وَلَمْ يُتَقَبَّلْ مِنَ الْآخَرِ قَالَلَأَقْتُلَنَّكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ
And relate to them the story ofthe two sons of Adam with truth when they both offered an offering, butit was accepted from one of them and was not accepted from the other.He said: I I will most certainly kill you. (The other) said: Allah onlyaccepts from those who are Muttaqin [guard (against evil).]
When it was recited, they all burst into tears and began to cry.
Syed Qutb became shaheed for the ideas he carried. And this shahadah brought life to the Ummah [muslim nation]. He himself would say;
'Indeed our words will remain lifeless, barren, devoid of anypassion, until we die as a result of these words, whereupon our wordswill suddenly spring to life and live on amongst the hearts that aredead, bringing them back to life as well...'
His books spread around Egypt even though the government tried to stopthem. His books were handwritten – since the government made it illegalto publish his books - and they spread around the whole Muslim world atspeed.
So any Muslim that you see who is affected by Islamic revival today, has read his book Ma'alim fil Tareeq [Milestones], and any Muslim who has read his Fi Dhilal al Qur'an [Under the Shade of the Qur'an], this is when they started to understand the Deen [Religion] from a revival perspective properly and comprehensively.
This person sacrificed his life for the sake of Allah, returningto Him. And Allah brought life to his words throughout the world, as wesee today.
The Dream of Zainab al Ghazali after Syed Qutb's execution
On the day of ash-Shaheed Sayyid Qutb's execution, Zainab al-Ghazali saw Sayyid Qutb in a dream; he told her, 'Know that I was not with them, I was in Madina in the company of the Prophet '.
The following day Zainab had another dream, 'I dozed (fell asleep) after Fajr prayer while reading the supplication of the concluding prayer, and heard a voice saying, 'Sayyid is in the highest (Jannat) Firdous (highest part of Paradise)'.
I woke and related the same to Hamidah who cried, saying 'I am sureof Allah's favour on us and that, God willing, Sayyid in the highestFirdous...these visions are consolation, a strengthening from Allah, theExalted, the High'.
Related Media;
The Ikhwan in Jail [during the time of Syed Qutb];
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ByfoLqg4jQ
Hal Turana (Do you envision us meeting...) [Poem of Amina Qutb (sister of Syed Qutb) after he left this world).]