The Life of Syed Qutb.

Asalaam alaikum Warahmatulah Wabarakatuh.

Download Book in PDF – The Lives of Hasan al Banna and Syed Qutb.
 
 
..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 stood waiting for the taxi, they were suddenly shot by two men. Al-Banna was hit by seven shots. Later, he was taken to hospital and they had received orders from the Egyptian monarchy to not give him any treatment where he died a slow death from the wounds, Hassan Al-Banna realised that they had been ordered not to treat him and he made 3 Dua’s against the Monarchy, this monarchy was soon overthrown by Jamal Abdul 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-Ghazali would soon play key roles in the near future to continue the legacy of Hasan 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 the major Muslim fighters – in the path of Allah – around the world against the oppressive regimes. The hero we’re going to talk about, if you were to ask them – they would say they have been inspired and influenced directly by this man and his works. For example, if you were to ask Shaheed Abdullah Azzam, he would say that he was firstly inspired by the Shaheed Syed Qutb (may Allah have mercy on him.) And that’s why it’s important that we understand his life, his works, and the effects he had on society, and how these thoughts and works permeated society.

His Family
He 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 opinion on whether he was of Indian origin, or Egyptian origin. But his immediate family was rich due to a large inheritance they had received from their grandfather, but naturally – their inheritance was decreasing as they lived their life.

His father was a highly respected figure in the community, and was a central and political figure to settle their disputes. He was also a practising man, so their family was practising Islam. His father would always take him to the masjid and pray 5 times in the Masjid. His father 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 would generously give to the poor and the workers in their fields. His mother would always listen to the Qur’an on the radio while looking at the workers in the field. His mother was firm in her decision that her son be 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 sister was 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 Syed Qutb’s eyes in the future. ‘Azma was tortured and beaten almost to the point 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 he would separate from her because he would spend so long in jail. She said no, and waited for him. They finally got married when she was 50 years old. In the end, her husband was killed by Anwar al Sadat the tyrant.

The 3rd person is his brother Muhammad Qutb, he is still alive today in Saudi Arabia, and he was imprisoned along with Syed Qutb, and almost tortured till death.

Syed’s 4th sister Hamidah, her responsibility was to lookafter the families and women of the Ikhwan, while their brothers were put inside the prison by the Egyptian Government. She was the link between Syed Qutb and the rest of the Ikhwan – while he was in prison. In 1965 she was 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 would be 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, due to the illness that overtook him in his young age, and later on in prison. Upon meeting him, he was calm, collected and tranquil.

His Childhood

As a child, he would pray the Salah/prayers 5 times in the Mosque with his father. He would attend the circles of the 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.

But when he was there, he saw that the teacher wasn’t teaching properly, and the children were not learning, and he was not getting any benefit out of this. So he asked his mother for permission to go back to the old 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, he started to memorize a third of the Qur’an at home per year. So he had memorized all of the Qur’an by the age of 11 (within 3 years.)

Syed Qutb also wanted to show everyone that he was brave. Once his mother took him to his cousins house, all the way to the other side of the village. It was the middle of the night, and his mother needed to get something from home. She said that she had to go, and that she would be back. Syed Qutb said “No, I will go, don’t fear”. He was only 11 years old, it was the middle of the night, no street lights, and he ran across the village, but half way through – fear overtook him. This was the area where people said there were many Jinn, and it was completely 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 Shaykh replied 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

Syed Qutb from a young age would save up his money for a man called Amsaalih, who used to sell books around the local villages. He would have a big collection of books, and another small collection specifically for Syed Qutb. If Syed never had the money, he would tell him that I don’t have the money now, so let me borrow it and I’ll give it 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 imitate the scholars by reading the books, and then give lectures to the rest of the village. If any women needed any information, they would wait till Syed Qutb came back from school, and ask him to share the knowledge he had to them. In many occasions he would be shy because he was a young man, but in some occasions he would go and teach the knowledge he had to the people who asked him.

The Early Secret Meetings

In 1919, Syed Qutb was 13 years old. He would sit with early people who wanted to cause a revolution against the Egyptian Government due to their oppression. He would sit with them and hear what they had to say, and then come back to his village and share what they had discussed in the meetings with his villagers. These would be his first experiences in Revolution.

His Education

He later moved to Cairo, because his mother was very upset at Syed’s father who was very generous on spending with the children. But his generosity made him sell alot of his land, to the extent that they even had to finally sell their own house. So his mother told Syed to go to Cairo to get a job and buy the land back.

She sent him to train to become a teacher, and in 1924 he got a Diploma in Teaching. But he wasn’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 then went 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 his Degree, he was employed by the Ministry of Education. In 1940, he was Editor and Translator for the Ministry.

If we study his early political life, we see that he belonged to the party of Hizb al Wafd, till 1942. This brought him into inevitable conflict with his superiors in the Ministry of Education because of his anti-government views. He then 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 not like his political views. They felt that he would change his political views after going to America, but this infact influenced him to become more 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 of corruption, tyranny and foreign domination, and this was banned after only six issues.

So he formed a new party but soon also left that in 1945 because he felt that every party was doing something for their own gain instead of for the people or an Islamic cause.

So he started to write independently and give lectures against the injustice of the government, and continued to do this until 1953.

1948-1950 – he was sent to study the methodology of education and teaching in the USA. As soon as he came back, he resigned from the ministry after all those years of study, 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 Cairo and university. This is where he began to read on Western Civilization and the principles of Materialism, and these concepts raised severe doubts in his mind about the religion.

He lived in doubt worry, fear, pain, rebelliousness, and he always wanted to know; what was the secret of life? He became so confused. He said about himself that; He would often cry, scream, and wish death would take him away from all the pain and contradiction. He lost all peace, and tranquillity in his life.

He recorded all these periods in his poem called “The Unknown Coast. [al Shaati' al Majhool]“.( I.e. I am 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 is about...)

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 he studied the Qur’an in a literal way, and he slowly began to understand the principles lined in the religion. Then something happened to him in America to remove his doubts.

He says; that while he was going to America, he was on the boat/ferry, and he saw the way the boat he was travelling in – was rocking in the huge sea – all under the control of Allah without it sinking or capsizing. At that point he realised the power of Allah. He said Eman [Belief] entered into his heart due to this.

His second scenario was in San Francisco, when he went on top of a mountain, and he could see the whole of creation in front of him, and he realised the beauty and harmony that existed amongst the creation as a whole. He said that, the sweetness of Eman hit him.

He took the Qur’an as guidance to his life, and the harmony between man and the universe. So he 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 that time said about Syed Qutb, that Allah gave him a key to understanding the expressions and meanings of the Qur’an, a key which Allah has never given to anyone before him.

He (Syed Qutb) says about his experience with the Qur’an;

الحياة في ظلال القرآن نعمة، نعمة لا يعرفها إلا من ذاقها، نعمة ترفع العمر وتباركه وتزكيه، فإذا من الله عليك بالحياة في ظلال القرآن فترة من الزمان ذقت فيها من نعمته ما لم تذق قط في حياتك

“Life in the Shade of the Qur’an is a wonderful blessing, which no-one knows except the one who has tasted it. It increases the life of a person and gives them blessings in their life and purifies them in their life, and praise is for Allah that Allah has given me a life under 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 to impact his thoughts and ideologies in refuting Communism, and Capitalism 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 be downloaded 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 his complete and comprehensive understanding of the religion and Ikhwani movement, and the movements’ role in affecting all aspects of life. In this stage – he most of all understood his duty to Allah, to be a witness for mankind upon the truth of Islam, to spread the religion. He realised the life he needed to lead.

The Revolution of Abdul Nasir

In Egypt, 1952, a revolution took place. Jamal Abdul Nasir the tyrant became the leader of the country. This would affect the Ikhwani movement in the near future a great deal, so let’s look at a brief history of the revolution and how it took place.

Ikhwan al Muslimeen [the Muslim Brotherhood] had a plan in place to cause a revolution against the government which had killed Hasan al Banna. Their plan was to infiltrate the army and to gain officers of the army into the ranks of the Ikhwan. These officers would be a secret party in the Ikhwan who could support the movement secretly, and they would be under the Military command, under the lead of a man called Mahmood al-Labeeb. He was 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 gave pledge to the special organization – ‘the Ikhwan Officers club’. No-one knew about this pledge since it was classified, and solemn secret pledge – a pledge of life and death.

They agreed to avenge the death of Hasan al Banna who had been assassinated by the Egyptian government and to topple their regime. They all promised to keep this plan a secret and not to let it escape to others. Jamal Abdul Nasir was within this circle as one of the officers who had pledged in secrecy.

They also pledged to train the other Ikhwani civilians so that they could fight the English – who had colonised Egypt at that time – after they achieved the assassination of the Egyptian king. For security reasons, they changed their name from ‘the Ikhwan Officers club’ to ‘the Free Officers’.

Then something happened. Jamal Abdul Nasir and Abdul Ra’uf who were the most active officers had a disagreement, so there became a split between the two. Abdul Nasir wanted to involve other non Ikhwanis into this secret organisation, whether they were practising or non practising muslims. Whereas Abdul Rauf said that they will not get anyone involved except a practising Muslim who is part of the ikhwan.

Abdul Rauf was travelling away, and the leader of the Military command Mahmood al Labeeb became ill. He was on his deathbed and he didn’t know who to give the documents (profiles of the Ikhwan etc), the secret plans, and the treasure/wealth of the Ikhwani movement to. The only one there was Jamal Abdul Nasir, so Mahmood al Labeeb handed all this down to Abdul Nasir, and he in effect became the new leader of the ‘the Free officers’.

Syed Qutb’s Role in Aiding the Revolution

At this time Syed Qutb was not a member of the Ikhwan. He like everybody else thought Abdul Nasir was a good man who was enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, and fighting against the corrupt government of their time. But the reality would be alot different.

The articles of Syed Qutb were against the government which assassinated Hasan al Banna, and his articles were many. It was due to these articles that many Officers from the army were joining the Ikhwan movement, although Syed Qutb wasn’t himself directly involved with the Movement. ‘The Free Officers’ would distribute his articles to potential members to spread their call. Some of these Officers – including Abdul Nasir – would go to the house of Syed Qutb to ask him for ideas about the Revolution. One could say that he was the main think-tank behind the Revolution. His ideas were permeating to the rest of the people in the revolution.

Abdul Nasir’s Betrayal to the Ikhwan

In 1950, Abdul Nasir left the Officers and made his own organisation with other members of the army. The special branch of the Ikhwan (especially Abdul Ra’uf) didn’t want to do this, so he split from them with his own organisation. 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 were almost a separate entity from the Military wing due to the great danger that was posed if the Officers were exposed, so even from the start there was little communication between the two parties. So Abdul Nasir could easily take advantage of this little communication by keeping his connection with the Da’wah wing, while also having his own Officers’ to do with as he wishes, along with the treasures and information of the Ikhwans’ passed onto him by Muhammad al Labeeb.

The head of the Da’wah wing was Hassan Hudaibi, and Abdul Nasir kept contact with him saying that we would help you in your cause. We have Generals and Officers, and we will help you when we get in power. Abdul Nasir promised to the brothers 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 to little communication – didn’t know that Abdul Nasir had separated from the real Ikhwani ‘Free Officers’ and they were unaware of his own nationalistic group of officers preparing for the Revolution.

The Revolution happens

So Abdul Nasir began the Revolution and with the help of the Ikhwan, he took down the monarchy and himself came into power as King of Egypt (Zainab al Ghazali would say he was the new Pharoah of Egypt).

The Ikhwanis’ including Hassan Hudaibi then came to Abdul Nasir, and reminded him of all the conditions they had set before. He was shocked when Abdul Nasir rejected every single condition put forward; he wasn’t going to implement 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’t exposed his full plans, and so Syed Qutb would meet up with Abdul Nasir and the Officers, and they would discuss how to stay firm on this Revolution without harm coming to them. Syed Qutb would sometimes stay for 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 very active in the field of Da’wah around Egypt. Abdul Nasir knew this, and he wanted to have another organisation which would also be great in number, and oppose the Islamic movement of the Ikhwan. To further strengthen his cause – he would try assassination attempts of major figures in the Ikhwani movement. (An instance occurred where Zainab al Ghazali had a major car accident, and this was done by some of Abdul Nasir’s agents to kill her – especially since she was so influential in the 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 personally meet Hasan al Banna, but he had heard about him and his cause. He might have thought that it wasn’t such a strong movement, or that it was like other movements which were doing it for their own personal gain, so he did not join that movement while Hasan al Banna was alive.

Sayyid Qutb did not have any formal or informal connections with the Ikhwan. Although he was aware of their activities and the efforts made by Hasan al-Banna, it seems that he was not convinced, until his time spent in the United States, that the Ikhwan were the effective tool by which Egyptian society could be changed.

While Syed Qutb was in America, the Ikhwanis’ best men fought in Palestine in Allah’s cause, but when they returned back to Egypt – they were all rounded and taken into 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 al Banna 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 Qutb got to know of Zionism [Jews for the state of ‘Israel’], and the hate of the Americans for Islam. Sayyid Qutb was in hospital in the United States when he witnessed the joy of the people there at the assasination of Hasan al-Banna. He was told, when he inquired about the reason for this joy and celebration, that the greatest enemy of the West had been killed.

From that moment Sayyid Qutb decided that he would join the Ikhwan as soon as he returned to Egypt. He realized that the colonial powers would not consider a person, and his organization, to be their archenemy unless that person was a strong and efficient person whose activities genuinely threatened the status quo and the colonialists’ interests in the area.

He also realised how much the American’s hated Islam after the assassination of Hasan al Banna. He also came in contact with a British spy [John Hersdon] there who was saying 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 Muslim and even marrying a Muslim woman, and afterwards returning back to America. He said to Syed Qutb (while pretending to be Muslim), I will translate your book Al-Adala al-Ijtima’iyya fi’l-Islam (Social Justice in Islam) for $10,000.

He also had a massive file filled with information on the activities and speeches of the Ikhwan al Muslimeen movement, from the beginning of Hasan al Banna’s activities, uptill his death. He knew all the secrets of the Ikhwan movement.He said 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 to Egypt, and decided to join the Ikhwan. His experiences in America made him realise the strength of such a group, encouraging him to study his religion 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 was fighting the Ikhwan, a time when the Ikhwan were being gathered from all 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 joined the battle and died for Allah’s cause.

Syed Qutb became fully involved in the Ikhwan movement and gave a weekly newspaper and lectures in Islamic study circles for the Ikhwan. He even went to Syria and 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 19^th January 1954, the Ikhwan movement was dissolved by the government. Many of the Ikhwanis’ were imprisoned, aswell as their leaders. But due to huge protests by the public – they were freed.
This experience only made Syed Qutb stronger in the Islamic cause, and he continued to make even more articles against Abdul Nasir’s government, influencing others to join and support the cause.

Syed Qutb is Jailed for the First time

Then Abdul Nasir made up a story that the Ikhwan intended to assassinate him, so they gathered up thousands of the Ikhwan in October. This was the real first trial of the Ikhwan. Before the trial of Syed Qutb, they tortured him and beat him severely. They made him sit on a chair for hours upon hours and days, without food and drink. They would then pour water infront of him and 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 lungs started to bleed. He got arthritis, bronchitis, and many of his illnesses 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 they received in prison, they would get even more punishment afterwards.

Syed Qutb replied; “yes, they made me stand up for hours.”

To show the torture that the Ikhwanis’ had received, he suddenly lifted his shirt from his back to show everyone the injuries he had received on his body from whipping, and beating.

He was taken back to jail and given a punishment of 15 years hard labour, of which he would do 10 years, due to his ill health. However, Zainab al Ghazali said that it was likely because they wanted to assassinate him once he was out of jail. However, an assassination did not occur

When he was in prison, everyone respected him. Even the worst of criminals had respect for him, even the prison guards did. And he would affect their minds in a positive way. When he received food from his family, he would distribute 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 Fattah Isma’il tried to restart the Ikhwani jamaa’ah [group]. He spoke to Syed Qutb about this while Syed Qutb was in jail. For 10 years Syed Qutb thought about the organisation, should we re-organise this jamaa’ah? So he thought he has to do something because the society is becoming influenced by Secularism. So Syed Qutb became the leader of the Ikhwani movement while being in jail.

Plans

But this time he had new ideas and new plans. His idea was that the Islamic groups were focusing on a local political level, whereas the whole of society needed a reform 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 firm knowledge in ‘Aqeedah and manners, who could protect the jamaa’ah [group] from oppression. This would be necessary since Abdul Nasir 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 would be a defense force for the Ikhwan al Muslimeen [Muslim brotherhood], so that if anyone from the government intended to harm the Muslims, they would be able to assassinate the prime minister or officers, and retaliate against any aggression. Syed Qutb began to lead the Ikhwan based 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 the Ikhwan – their names were given to Abdul Nasir. So he was now fully aware who was involved in the new Ikhwani movement.

The plan of Syed Qutb – for the Muslim brothers – to retaliate against any aggression – was supposed to be the last stage of the new revolution. However, this now became a priority due to Abdul Nasir being aware of who was involved. So the Ikhwan quickly came together and began to plan which brothers would get involved in defending the cause. There was even a plan that weapons would come from Saudi Arabia to aid them in their cause, but Syed Qutb rejected this because he realised that this was a plan from the secret services to try to expose the movement in their ‘betrayal’ to the government.

Then in 1965, Jamal Abdul Nasir announced in Moscow [due to his links with Communism], that Ikhwan was a secret organization that planned to overthrow him. So many of the Ikhwan were put into trial in 1965 again, and many were imprisoned and tortured.

The Dream of Syed Qutb

During this time, Syed Qutb was temporarily freed from imprisonment due to health conditions. However, he was still firm in his lead for the Ikhwani cause.

The journalist Mahmud ar-Rakaabi narrated a strange discussion that took place between himself and ash-shaheed Sayyid Qutb at his house before his imprisonment.

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, ‘Can you interpret dreams? For I had a vision last night that a red snake wrapped itself around me and then tightened itself on me. Then I woke up that hour and couldn’t go back to sleep.’

I said, ‘My sir! That’s a gift, to be presented to you by one of the believers, wrapped with a red ribbon, and if you wish I will present it to you now, so take it and 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. In fact, sometimes their departure is more beneficial! Although, I am not intending my own destruction, but we must intend firmness in our stance, knowing that the firmness in stance can bring about destruction.’

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 an investigation of the new plans, in his interview – he confessed to every single thing, including him being the leader of the organisation. He wanted to accept the blame for every single thing instead of putting the 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’at was killed in front of his own eyes.

Zainab al Ghazali was also put in jail since she was a leading member of the Ikhwani movement. She reports that she went past the jail cell of Syed Qutb because she needed to go to the toilet, and as she walked past the cell of Syed Qutb, she saw a cloth which covered his cell whilst he was being tortured. Some wind came and raised the cloth, and he saw Zainab al Ghazali. 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 she returned from the toilet, she walked past his cell and they were still beating 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 see other Ikhwanis who had been tortured and he would smile at them to make them feel better. If he saw them being tortured he would cry and make du’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 القيود
إذا 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 الدماء
و 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 be punished even more. So he himself would tell the news reporters about the punishments they received, and for this he would get beaten even more.

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 ignorant commoner), he would make judgments upon the Ikhwanis’ in court. To show how 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 Jews against the Muslims. So the Jews let him go due to his betrayal of the Muslims. This man was the judge against Syed Qutb, and he was extremely rude to him.

Syed Qutb would look at Fawad Dajawi, and had no respect for him at all. He would look at him with such a harsh stare, that Dajawi became terrified of Syed Qutb. So in court, Syed Qutb took the blame for everything for the Ikhwani movement.

Syed Qutb was sentenced, and he knew that his execution was going to be near. So he sent letters from prison to his family during this period.

Human Rights Organisations, and many leaders [including Shaykh bin Baz) said that Syed Qutb should be released. When Malik Faisal [the king of Saudi Arabia], said he should be freed, Abdul Nasir became very angry and said that we will do the execution the next day.

His sister Hamidah was told to ask forgiveness from Abdul Nasir, and say that it wasn’t you who was responsible 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

I swear in the Name of Allah, if this “thing or talk” [of another group doing the revolution] was correct, then I would say it and there will be 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 has faced as much punishment as the human can suffer, so that you and the brotherhood 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 to say just a line or a few words to Abdul Nasir to say that I’m sorry for what 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 this oppressive regime.”

The Day of Syed Qutb’s Execution

Generally prisoners would not know when they are due to be executed because of public sensitivities. Consequently, the date of the exectution of Syed Qutb was kept hidden even from Syed Qutb himself. On the day of his execution the military officer entered Syed Qutb’s cell under the pretext that he has been ordered to change his cell quarters. However ash-shaheed Syed Qutb knew that this was not just another cell change 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 him with a beaming smile on his face, he was extremely happy and waving to the 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 the true 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 fifteen years 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 pleased to meet Allah. He knew that this was the truth, knowing that if you work sincerely in your life for the sake of Allah – then your end no doubt – will be shahadah (martyrdom) in Allah’s/God’s cause. This is what he had been waiting for, for so long.

On the 29^th 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 Muslimeen in the Jumu’ah [Friday congregation] prayer recited from the Qur’an Surah Maa’idah (5:27) on the two sons of Adam;

َاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ابْنَيْ آدَمَ بِالْحَقِّ إِذْ قَرَّبَا قُرْبَانًا فَتُقُبِّلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِمَا وَلَمْ يُتَقَبَّلْ مِنَ الْآخَرِ قَالَ لَأَقْتُلَنَّكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ


And relate to them the story of the two sons of Adam with truth when they both offered an offering, but it 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 only accepts 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 any passion, until we die as a result of these words, whereupon our words will suddenly spring to life and live on amongst the hearts that are dead, bringing them back to life as well…’

His books spread around Egypt even though the government tried to stop them. His books were handwritten – since the government made it illegal to publish his books – and they spread around the whole Muslim world at speed.

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, returning to Him. And Allah brought life to his words throughout the world, as we see 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 sure of Allah’s favour on us and that, God willing, Sayyid in the highest Firdous…these visions are consolation, a strengthening from Allah, the Exalted, 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).]

Hal Turana Naltaqi – Do you Envision us Meeting… (Amina Qutb to Syed Qutb after his shahadah) [POEM]

هل ترنا نلتقي
Hal Turana Naltaqi

Do you envision us meeting…

The following poem is written by Amina Qutb, the sister of Syed Qutb after he was executed, and returned back to Allah.

DOWNLOAD Nasheed Hal Turana – MP3 recited by Sa’ad al Ghamdi

[Highly Recommended to hear when reading the Poem]:
DOWNLOAD LINK: http://www.enshad.net/audio/Al-Damaa…aa_Naltaqi.mp3

هل ترانا نلتقي أم أنها …. كانت اللقيا على أرض السراب

Do you envision us meeting, or has it already,
Taken place in the land of the mirage;

ثم ولت وتلاشى ظلها …. واستحالت ذكريات للعذاب

Then it withdrew and its shadow vanished,
And turned into torturous memories;

هكذا أسأل قلبي كلما …. طالت الأيام من بعد الغياب
Thus asks my heart whenever,
The days grow long, after your absence;

وإذا طيفك يرنو باسماً …. وكأني في استماع للجواب
When your shadow stares, smiling,
It is as if I am listening to the response;

أولم نمضي على الحق معاً …. كي يعود الخير للأرض اليباب
Did we not walk upon Truth together,
So that Good can return to barren land;

فمضينا في طريق شائك …. ما تخلى فيه عن كل الرغاب
So we walked along a thorny path,
Abandoning all our ambitions;

ودفنا الشوق في أعماقنا …. ومضينا في رضاء واحتساب

We buried our desires deep within ourselves,
And we strove on in contentment, expecting reward from Allah;

قد تعودنا على السير معاً …. ثم أعجلت مجيباً للذهاب

We had made a pact to walk together,
And then you hurried in responding and departing;

حين نادى لي رب منعم …. لي حياتي في جنان ورحاب
When a Benevolent Lord called me,
To a life amidst gardens and vast lands;

ولقاء في نعيم دائم …. لجنود الله مرحا للصحاب
And towards a sublime meeting amidst divine favours,
With the Soldiers of Allah, joyful in companionship;

قدموا الأرواح والعمر فدا …. مستجيبين على غير ارتياب
Presenting their souls and lives, a sacrifice,
Responding without slightest doubts;

فليهب قلبك من غفلاته …. فلقاء الخلد في تلك الرحاب
So to renew your heart from its slumber,
An ever-lasting meeting in such a land;

أيها الراحل عمراً في شكاتي …. فإلى طيفك أنات عتاب

Oh traveler, Forgiveness from my complaints,
Unto me is your ghost, to him a patient reproach;

قد تركت القلب يدمي مثقلاً …. تائهاً في الليل في عمق الضباب

I abandoned my heart to bleed heavily,
Lost in the night, in the depths of fog;

وإذا أطوي وحيداً حائراً …. أقطع الدرب طويلاً في اكتئاب

And if I traverse, confused and alone,
I’ll interrupt the path, long it is in depression;

وإذا الليل خضم موحش …. تتلاقى فيه أمواج العذاب

And if in the night, I find a gloomy sea,
Encountering in it waves of pain;

لم يعد يبرق في ليلي سنا …. قد توارت كل أنوار الشهاب

Ceasing in my nights, is the radiance of lightening,
And the brightness of stars have disappeared;

غير أني سوف أمضي مثلما …. كنت تلقاني في وجه الصعاب

Despite this, I shall continue just as,
You used to find me, in the face of adversity;

سوف يمضي الرأس مرفوعاً فلا …. يرتضي ضعفاً بقول أو جوابي

I shall continue keeping my head raised, And won’t,
Consent to weakness in speech, nor reply;

سوف تحدوني دماء عابقات …. قد أنارت كل فج للذهاب

I shall be guided by the sweet-scented blood,
And light has illuminated the horizons of escape;

هل ترانا نلتقي أم أنها …. كانت اللقيا على أرض السراب

Do you envision us meeting, or has it already,
Taken place in the land of the mirage;

ثم ولت وتلاشى ظلها …. واستحالت ذكريات للعذاب

Then it withdrew and its shadow vanished,
And turned into torturous memories;

هكذا أسأل قلبي كلما …. طالت الأيام من بعد الغياب

Thus asks my heart whenever,
The days grow long, after your absence;

وإذا طيفك يرنو باسماً …. وكأني في استماع للجواب

When your shadow stares, smiling,
It is as if I am listening to the response.

—————————

To understand the poem in depth, you have to read his [interesting] lifestory and struggles for Allah’s religion;

Read Online;
http://www.islamic-life.com/forums/islamic-history-biographies/lives-hasan-al-banna-syed-qutb-2616

Or download;
http://www.archive.org/download/TheLivesOfTheTwoRevivers-HasanAlBannaSyedQutb/TheLivesOfTheTwoRevivers-HasanAlBannaSyedQutb.pdf