Muslim Brotherhood
The Al Ikhwan el Muslimeen, the Society of the Muslim Brothers, often called the Muslim Brotherhood, or The Brotherhood, is an Islamist movement. Today, it exists in many states and often is one of the largest political opposition groups.[1] The group is the world's oldest and largest Islamic political group,[1] and the "world's most influential Islamist movement".[2] Hassan al-Banna founded the group in Egypt in 1928.
| Muslim Brotherhood | |
|---|---|
| 200px Emblem of the Muslim Brotherhood | |
| Type | Islamic organization |
| Headquarters | Cairo,  Egypt |
| Region served | Worldwide |
| Membership | Estimated millions |
| General Guide | Mahmoud Ezzat (acting) |
| Key people | Khairat el-Shater (deputy) |
| Website | ikhwanweb.com |
Goals
The Brotherhood's stated goal is to instill the Qur'an and Sunnah as the "sole reference point for ... ordering the life of the Muslim family, individual, community ... and state".[3] Since it was created, in 1928 the movement has officially opposed violent means to achieve its goals,[4][5] with some exceptions such as in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or to overthrow secular Ba'athist rule in Syria (see Hama massacre). This position has been questioned, particularly by the Egyptian government, which accused the group of a campaign of killings in Egypt after World War II.[6]
In Egypt
The Muslim Brotherhood is banned in Egypt. People have been arrested because they participated in the group.[7] To circumvent this ban, supporters of the group often run for office as independent candidates.[8]
Outside Egypt
Outside Egypt, the group's political activity is more traditional and conservative. Inside Egypt, the group is modernist and wants reforms to happen. In Kuwait,for example, the Muslim Brotherhood says that women should not have a right to vote in elections.[9] The Brotherhood condemned terrorism and the 9/11 attacks.[10][11] Whether the group has ties to terrorist organisations is disputed.[12]
The question whether and how to use violence has also led to disputes inside the movement. At times, those in favour of using violence split from the main group and created their own groups. Examples of such groups are Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya (The Islamic Group) and Al Takfir Wal Hijra (Excommunication and Migration).[13]
Among the Brotherhood's more influential members was Sayyid Qutb. Qutb was the author of one of Islamism's most important books, Milestones. The book called for the restoration of Islam by re-establishing the Sharia and by using "physical power and Jihad for abolishing the organizations and authorities of the Jahili system. Qutb believed these included the entire Muslim world. The book also reveals that Qutb no longer held the Brotherhood's ideas and that he was closer to the ideas of Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is concluded in the introduction and dedication of the book"[14] [15] While studying at university, Osama bin Laden claimed to have been influenced by the religious and political ideas of several professors with strong ties to the Muslim Brotherhood including both Sayyid Qutb and his brother Muhammad Qutb. However, once Al Qaeda was fully organized, they denounced the Muslim Brotherhood's reform through nonviolence and accused them of "betraying the cause of Islam and abandoning their 'jihad' in favour of forming political parties and supporting modern state institutions".[16][17]
The Brotherhood is financed by contributions from its members, who are required to allocate a part of their income to the movement. Some of these contributions are from members who live in oil-rich countries.[18]
Muslim Brotherhood Media
The founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al-Banna
Muslim Brotherhood fighters in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War
Prime minister Nokrashy Pasha, who was shot by a Brotherhood assassin after outlawing the society in 1948
Then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meeting with then-Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, May 2013
A group of pro-Brotherhood protesters holding the Rabia sign and making the associated gesture during a pro-Brotherhood protest held in October 2013
Mohammed Badie, the current leader
Erdoğan performing the Rabaa gesture (which is used by Muslim Brotherhood supporters in Egypt protesting against the post-Brotherhood authorities)
Countries that ban Muslim Brotherhood, as of August 2021[update]
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Moderate Muslim Brotherhood Archived 2009-01-26 at the Stanford Web Archive, Robert S. Leiken & Steven Brooke, Foreign Affairs Magazine
- ↑ "The Muslim Brotherhood in flux - Al Jazeera English". www.aljazeera.com.
- ↑ "Principles of the Muslim Brotherhood". Archived from the original on 2007-04-26. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
- ↑ "Egyptian Regime Resasserts Its Absolute Disrespect of Law". February 6, 2007.[dead link]
- ↑ History of Muslim Brotherhood Movement Homepage. Archived from the original on 2009-03-27. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
- ↑ Chamieh, Jebran, Traditionalists, Militants and Liberal in Present Islam, Research and Publishing House, 1994?, p.140
- ↑ Egyptian Brotherhood mass arrests. 15 February 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6364689.stm.
- ↑ Scores arrested in Egypt election. 20 November 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4453674.stm.
- ↑ Roy, Olivier, Globalized Islam, Columbia University Press, 2004, p.67
- ↑ "Muslim Brother Hood Condemns 9/11 attack". Archived from the original on 2009-02-15. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
- ↑ "Muslim Brother Hood Condemns 9/11 attack and calls U.S the world leader in terrorism". Archived from the original on 2011-05-13. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
- ↑ Crane, Mary. "Does the Muslim Brotherhood Have Ties to Terrorism". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on 2009-05-31. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
- ↑ The Salafist Movement, Frontline (PBS)
- ↑ Qutb, Sayyid, Milestones, (1981) p.55, 62
- ↑ Qutb, Sayyid, Milestones, (1981) p.11, 19
- ↑ "Muslim Brotherhood vs Al Qaeda" January 19, 2010
- ↑ "MB Chief Criticism" Archived 2010-08-07 at the Wayback Machine Dec. 30 2007
- ↑ In Search Of Friends Among The Foes U.S. Hopes to Work With Diverse Group