Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

 

In a previous issue, al-Yawm al-Sābi‘published an article written by Wā’il al-Samarī entitled “Rad al-‘I‘tbār ilá al-Shahīd Sayyid Qutb” [Defending the Martyr Sayyid Qutb], which ‘Abd al-Rahīm ‘Alī disagrees with in this article.

 

‘Alī started by stressing the fact that Qutb’s ideologies changed radically after detention, and his ideas can be divided into two distincy stages. There is no problem with his first stage of production as a writer and critic. It is the second stage, starting from 1954 when he was detained, that is highly controversial and is attacked for. According to what Shaykh Yūsuf al-Qaradāwī mentioned in his memoirs, published on “Islamonline.net,” eight years ago, Qutb does not believe in his early, moderate ideology. Now he adopts only his most recent books such as “Ma‘ālim fi al-Tarīq” [Milestones], the last parts of “Fī Zilāl al-Qur’ān” [In the Shade of the Qur’ān] and their second editions, in addition to other books he wrote in prison. Al-Qaradāwī mentioned that Qutb admitted to the fundamental change in his views.

 

‘Abd al-Mun‘im Abū al-Futūh, a renowned figure in the Muslim Brotherhood and former member of the Guidance Bureau, stated in 2006 that what Qutb wrote before 1954 differs from what he wrote after he was detained and tortured. He pointed out that his second stage of production came while he was angry with life and in a disturbed state of mind. Therefore, he should not be harassed for it, argues Abū al-Futūh.

 

In an important study entitled “Hal Yukaffir Sayyid Qutb Muslimī al-Yawm?,” (Does Sayyid Qutb View Today’s Muslims as Kāfirs) published on “islamonline.net” in May 2004, al-Qaradāwī quoted some excerpts from Qutb, showing the radical changes that took place in his views. ‘Alī argues that the excerpts irrefutably show that Qutb views contemporary Muslims who live in countries that are not ruled by Islamic sharī‘ah, as he understands it, are kāfirs. Moreover, he believes that al-Jāhilīyah is represented in every society that is not governed by sharī‘ah alone.

 

According to what al-Qaradāwī quoted from Qutb, the latter calls for the need of uniting under a Muslim leadership and refuses loyalty to present leaders. ‘Alī wonders if this cannot be considered an open call for revolution against the world’s regimes, including democratic ones. ‘Alī requires an answer from the new Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, Muhammad Badī‘, who always talks about the misunderstood and metaphorical language of Qutb. [For more information and background on Sayyid Qutb and his views, please see AWR2005, week 52, article 16]