E-Content Compiled and Edited by: Dr Zahoor Ahmad Wani

4. Ikhwān al-Muslimīn
Ikhwan al-Muslimīn or The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in 1928 by Hasan al-Banna (1906-1949), a
22-year-old elementary school teacher, as an Islamic revivalist, political, and social movement following
the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the subsequent ban of the caliphate system of government that
had united the Muslims for hundreds of years. Al-Banna based his ideas that Islam was not only a
religious observance, but a comprehensive way of life promoting a conception of Islam that
attempted to restore broken links between tradition and modernity

Al-Banna espoused that Egyptian poverty, powerlessness, and lack of dignity resulted from falling away
from true faith and adopting Western values and culture. “Islam huwa al-ḥal” (Islam is the solution to all
Egyptian and mankind’s ills) was his primary slogan and he called for a constitution derived from the
Qur’an and Sunnah, as well as the precedents set forth by the first four rightly-guided Caliphs. He wanted
the abrogation of secular law and the introduction of Islamic law as the law of Egypt. Another aspect of
Al-Banna’s message was the prohibition of vices such as gambling, prostitution, usury, interest and ideas
not conforming to Islamic teachings.

Although Al-Banna preached pan-Islamism, he was not opposed to pan-Arabism and Egyptian
nationalism. In his pamphlet, Mudhakkirāt al-Daʿwah wa al-Dāʿī (Memoirs of the Call and the Preacher),
Al-Banna clearly outlines the early years of the organization saying, “I prefer to gather men than gather
information from books.” He emphasized building the organization and established internal rules to keep
it going beyond his lifetime.

The Brotherhood grew as a popular movement over the next 20 years, encompassing not only
religion and education, but also politics, through Ḥizb al-Ikhwān Al-Muslimīn (the Party of the
Muslim Brotherhood).

In 1936, Al-Banna sent a letter to King Farouk and Prime Minister Nahas Pasha encouraging
them to promote an Islamic order. That same year Egypt signed the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty,
giving more control and autonomy to local governments. By 1938 Al-Banna called on King
Farouk to dissolve Egypt’s political parties because of their corruption and the division they
caused within the country. The Brotherhood’s tactics began to change from working within the
system to advocating an armed revolutionary struggle to facilitate change.

In 1948, Ikhwān members fought in the Arab-Israeli conflict side by side Egyptian Army,
increasing the organization’s stature and recruiting ability and further cementing its relationship
E-Content Compiled and Edited by: Dr Zahoor Ahmad Wani

with the Egyptian Army. In 1949, its leader Hasan al-Banna was assassinated and he was
succeeded by Hassan Hudaybi (1891-1973).

In 1952, Jamal Abd al-Nasir succeeded in overthrowing the monarchy with the help of the
Muslim Brotherhood which was promised by Nāsir to steer a course toward an Islamic
government. But the Brotherhood was rebuffed when Nāsir offered it only a ministerial post in
the Awqāf (religious endowments) and an appointment to the post of Mufti of Egypt. A
deterioration of the relationship between Nāsir and the Ikhwān ensued. In 1954, a member of the
Ikhwān was accused by the authorities of being the perpetrator of the attempt to murder the
President Nāsir. Nāsir then abolished the Brotherhood and imprisoned and punished thousands
of its members. In 1964, a most prominent Ikhwān leader and writer Sayyid Qutb (1906-1966)
was released from prison only to be arrested again along with his brother Muhammad Qutub
(1919-2014) in August 1965, when they were accused of being part of a plot to overthrow the
state and to assassinate the President and other Egyptian officials and personalities.

In 1970, Anwar Sadat (1918-1981) became the president of Egypt and he gradually released
imprisoned Ikhwān members and enlisted their help against leftist groups. However, the
organisation was tolerated to an extent, but remained technically illegal and subject to periodic
crackdowns.

In the 1980s, during Hosni Mubarak's (1928-2020) presidency, many of the student Islamist
activists joined the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood dominated the professional and student
associations of Egypt and was famous for its network of social services in neighbourhoods and
villages. The government again used suppressive measures starting in 1992 to reduce the
renewed influence of the Brotherhood. Despite mass arrests, police harassment and an essentially
closed political system, President Hosni Mubarak could not stop Brotherhood candidates making
strong showings in several parliamentary elections.

Following the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 that overthrew Hosni Mubarak, the Brotherhood was
legalized and emerged as "the most powerful group" and the "most cohesive political movement"
in Egypt with an unparalleled ability to mobilize its followers. Its newly formed political party—
the Freedom and Justice Party—won almost half the seats in the 2011–12 parliamentary election
(far more than any other party), and its presidential candidate Mohammed Morsi (1951-2019)
won the 2012 presidential election. However within a year he was overthrown by the military,
E-Content Compiled and Edited by: Dr Zahoor Ahmad Wani

imprisoned and he later died in the jail in 2019. The freedom and Justice Party and Muslim
Brotherhood was again banned and its all prominent members were imprisoned who are till then
in jails waiting for their trials.

Principals of the Ikhwan al-Muslimīn as stated by its founder Hasan al-Banna

 Following the Qur’an, Sunnah and Salaf and a complete rejection of any action or principle
that contradicts the Qur’an and Sunnah.
 Striving to implement the Sunnah in one’s life.
 Increasing Imān (religiosity) by focusing on the purity of hearts.
 Working toward Islamizing the government and assisting in this goal.
 Forming sports clubs and committing members to a life of physical fitness.
 Enhancing the knowledge of Islam and the Shariah among Egyptians and others.
 Establishing a sound economic infrastructure through contributions of its members to
sponsor Islamic schools, healthcare, and other projects.
 Fostering links with other organisations within the Islamic world and beyond.

In India, Syed Mawdudi (1903-1979) founded the Jamā’t-e-Islāmī in 1941 which is said to have
been inspired by Ikhwān al-Muslimīn. Both groups originally sought to establish legal and
political systems based on Islamic law and both groups promote Islam as a comprehensive way
of life and encourage Muslims to participate in the broader society in order to advance Islamic
causes.

Supreme guides (Murshid Aam
) of the Muslim Brotherhood:

1928-1949: Hasan al-Bannā (
)
 

 
1949-1972: Hassan al-Huḍaybī (  )

1972-1986: Umar al-Tilmisānī ( )
  

1986-1996: Muhammad Ḥāmid Abu al-Nasr ()

1996-2002: Mustafa Mashhūr (

 
)

2002-2004: Ma'mun al-Huḍaybī (
  "#!)
2004-2010: Mohammed Mahdi Akef (%&'$)
2010-present: Mohammed Badie ()
()