Syed Qutb (1906–1966) remains one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern Islamist thought. An Egyptian author, educator, and leading theorist of the Muslim Brotherhood, his writings have shaped the ideology of Islamist movements for decades. His journey from a secular literary critic to a radical ideologue offers a profound insight into the collision between traditional Islamic values and modern Western society.
The Transformation: From Literary Critic to Islamist Theorist
Born in the village of Musha in Upper Egypt, Qutb began his career as a secular writer and literary critic, even working for the Egyptian Ministry of Education. However, a pivotal shift occurred during his time in the United States (1948–1950), where he was sent on a scholarship to study the educational system.
Instead of being impressed by American progress, Qutb was horrified. He perceived American culture as materialistic, soulless, and morally depraved. He wrote critically of the racism he witnessed, the sexual permissiveness, and what he saw as a society obsessed with the physical world at the expense of the spiritual. This experience solidified his belief that Western civilization was fundamentally "Jahili"—a state of ignorance similar to pre-Islamic Arabia—and that Islam offered the only viable alternative for humanity's salvation.
The Concept of "Jahiliyya" (Ignorance)
Central to Qutb's ideology is the concept of Jahiliyya. Historically, this term referred to the "Age of Ignorance" in Arabia before the revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. Qutb, however, radically redefined it.
He argued that Jahiliyya was not a specific time period but a state of being. In his view, the modern world—including Western democracies, communist states, and even Muslim-majority countries not governed strictly by Sharia (Islamic law)—was living in a state of Jahiliyya. He believed that any society where sovereignty (Hakimiyya) belonged to humans rather than God was illegitimate.
This was a revolutionary and dangerous idea. By labeling modern Muslim societies as "Jahili," Qutb implied that their rulers were apostates and that true Muslims had a duty to overthrow them to establish a genuine Islamic state. This laid the intellectual groundwork for revolutionary Islamist movements.
Views on Western Society and Modern Muslims
Qutb’s critique of the West was total. He did not deny its scientific or material achievements but argued that they came at the cost of the human soul. He viewed Western freedom as a form of slavery to base desires and materialism.
"The leadership of mankind by Western man is now on the verge of disappearing... not because Western civilization is materially bankrupt or has lost its economic or military power, but because the Western order has played its part and no longer possesses that stock of 'values' which gave it its predominance." — Milestones
For Qutb, modern Muslims who imitated the West or accepted secular governance were "Muslims in name only." He called for a "vanguard" of true believers to separate themselves from this corrupt society—both mentally and physically—to prepare for the eventual restoration of God's rule on earth.
Famous & Controversial Quote
Perhaps his most defining statement encapsulates his binary worldview—the clash between Islam and Jahiliyya:
"Islam cannot accept any mixing with Jahiliyya... either Islam will remain, or Jahiliyya; no half-measures are possible."
This quote, from his manifesto Milestones (Ma'alim fi al-Tariq), underscores his belief in an inevitable conflict between the two systems, rejecting any possibility of compromise or coexistence with secularism.
Legacy and Execution
Qutb's radical ideas eventually led to his conflict with the Egyptian state. After the 1952 revolution, he initially supported Gamal Abdel Nasser but soon turned against the secular nationalist regime. He was imprisoned, tortured, and wrote his most radical works, including Milestones, from behind bars.
In 1966, Syed Qutb was convicted of plotting to assassinate President Nasser and was executed by hanging. His death turned him into a martyr for his followers, and his writings continue to be widely read and debated today, serving as a foundational text for groups ranging from the Muslim Brotherhood to more militant organizations like Al-Qaeda.
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