One of the most significant Islamic figures of the 20th century, Hasan al-Banna was born in 1906 in the

town of Mahmudiyah in Egypt. The son of a local religious leader, al-Banna attended Dar al-ʿUlum,
Egypt’s first modern institute of higher learning, where he was trained as a teacher. In 1928, he founded
the Society of the Muslim Brothers (al-ikhwan al-muslimun), considered the oldest organization of
Political Islam. Until his death in 1949 at the hands of Egyptian security agents, al-Banna served as the
General Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood. Under his strong, charismatic leadership, it became the most
significant social movement in Egypt, amassing a following of over one million people and establishing
itself as a major force in national politics. Al-Banna’s influence extended beyond Egypt, as the Muslim
Brotherhood expanded to other countries in the Middle East and served as a model for the rise of
religious movements across the Muslim world.

Biographical Works

Scholarship on this important figure in the history of the modern Islamic movement has been generally
linked to broader studies of the organization he founded. Nonetheless, there are some works that focus
particularly on Hasan al-Banna. Most of these are memoirs of early members and leaders of the Muslim
Brotherhood who spent many years alongside al-Banna as he traveled the country to found local
chapters and engaged the political establishment in Cairo. ʿAssaf 1993 and Sisi 1978 are examples of this
literature.

DONATE
 Hasan al-Banna
1906-1949

He wasn't a wealthy man or a carrier politician. He was neither the son of a prominent
family nor the friend of an influential leader. His friends admired him, his foes respected
him. His message appealed to the rich and the poor, the male and the female, the old and
the youth, the intellectual and the illiterate, the urban resident and the rural peasant. He
despised oppression and dedicated his entire life struggling against it. At the time of his
tragic death, many people, including his Christian friends, defied government orders not to
participate in his funeral and risked their lives for paying respect to his grieving family.

His name was Hasan al-Banna, the Imam, the leader, and the reformer whose legacy not
only influenced Muslims in Egypt but also inspired the oppressed, the reformers and the
grassroots activists around the world until the present times.

In 1938, at the age of 32, Hasan al-Banna synthesized his concepts of grassroots activism
in several concise points. More than 50 years after his martyrdom in 1949 and with all of
the socio-economic, political and cultural developments that our world has witnessed, his
words couldn't be more relevant today than they were half a century ago.
Advertisement

Following is the clear and simple advice he gave to Muslims:

1. Be engaged in Dawah (promote the message of our Most Merciful Creator) efforts

following the authentic sources of Islam as prescribed in the Quran and Prophet

Muhammad's tradition and as understood by the early righteous followers of

Islam.

2. Abide by the words, actions, and instructions of the Messenger of Allah in all

spheres of life, especially in matters of creed and worship.

3. Recognize the importance of purifying the heart and becoming close to the creator

through Dhikr, repentance, love for Allah, and supererogatory acts.

4. Be organized politically, demanding the reformation of Muslim governments and

seeking to re-establish a just and equitable Islamic political order.

5. Establish athletic associations, understanding that the development of fitness in

preparation for worship is an essential part of the training for the individual.

6. Promote culture and learning, encouraging Muslims to acquire knowledge of Islam

and other subjects and culturing their bodies, intellect and heart.

7. Strengthen their economic status through lawful means.

8. Develop a welfare system, attending to the problems of the society, discovering their

cures and keeping their nations healthy.

9. Avoid disagreements in matters of jurisprudence.

10. Remain free from the control of the rich and influential.

11. Have no alliance with political parties and organizations.

12. Apply a gradual approach in confronting challenges, favoring practical and

constructive aspects of the work rather than seeking publicity and propaganda.

13. Pay attention to the youth and reach out to people in the cities and villages.

14. Create a balance between 'intellect and emotion' and between 'reality and

imagination'.

15. Refrain from insulting other groups and personalities.