Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

The issue of Hassan Al-Hudaiby, the second supreme guide of the Muslim Brotherhood (1891-1973) was brought up by Farid Abdel Khaleq, the former member of the formation committee and the guidance office of the Brotherhood, during a televised interview aired by Al-Jazeerah satellite channel. Abdel-Khaleq discussed the stand of Al-Hudaiby toward Ma’alem Fe Al-Tareeq [Milestones], written by Sayyed Qutb and also Al-Hudaiby’s stand toward the 1965 group that was based on the ideas in Qutb’s book.



Abdel-Khaleq believes that Al-Hudaiby did not consent to the formation of the 1965 organization, despite of agreeing to the publication of the book. Abdel-Khaleq asked Qutb not to publish the book because the ideas included in the book contradict the ideas of the Brotherhood, especially rendering the society as apostate. Abdel-Khaleq said that Sayyed Qutb withdrew his ideas, which were mentioned in the book, during his investigation and his trial. The documents that recorded Qutb’s abandoning his ideas were with Shams Badran, who was investigating Qutb. But Abdel-Khaleq’s account might be historically correct especially that he belongs to the party that opposes the 1965 organization.



Youssef Hawash, who accompanied Qutb in the Liman hospital as they both suffered from chest illnesses, said that Qutb believed that the rule in Islam is part of the faith. According to Qutb, there are two forms of rule: either an Islamic state under God or a jahili state that is not under God. Qutb concluded that the Muslim Brotherhood should be fed on this principle of rule. Until 1962, the ideas of Qutb had not yet reached any of the Brotherhood members, except Hawash who was a prisoner with Qutb in the Tura Prison. Later on, many Brotherhood members got treatment at the same hospital that gave them the chance to meet Qutb and thus get acquainted with his ideas. The ideas of Qutb started to spread among members of the Brotherhood and caused a lot of enthusiasm among most of them. But some members resisted Qutb’s ideas as they saw that it completely contradicts the ideas they were raised on. The Muslim Brotherhood did not render anyone who said the shahadateen [pronouncing the words: There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Messenger] as apostates, including the rulers, even if they [the rulers] did not apply the law of God. This led to division within the lines of the Brotherhood: those who support the ideas of Qutb and others who reject those ideas.