Sayyid Qutb

Sayyid Qutb was an Egyptian political theorist, poet, and leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood. Born in 1906, he became a prominent figure in Egyptian intellectual and political circles. His early career was in literature and education, but his experiences, particularly his time in the United States and subsequent imprisonment, led him to develop radical Islamist views. Qutb's magnum opus, 'In the Shade of the Quran,' is a comprehensive commentary on the Quran, and his book 'Milestones' became a manifesto for Islamist movements. He advocated for a return to Islamic principles as the basis for governance and society, criticizing both Western materialism and the secularism of contemporary Muslim governments. His ideas, emphasizing the concept of 'Jahiliyyah' (ignorance) in modern Muslim societies and the necessity of revolutionary jihad, have profoundly influenced Islamist and jihadist movements worldwide. In 1966, Qutb was executed by hanging in Egypt, convicted of plotting the assassination of President Gamal Abdel Nasser. He is regarded by many as a martyr for Islam and a key ideologue of 20th-century Islamism.