Draft:Muslim Brotherhood Society

Template:Infobox political party Muslim Brotherhood (al-Ikhwān al-Muslimūn) is a Sunni group with Salafi thoughts and pro-democracy tendencies. The Muslim Brotherhood advocates for the Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought and has been a supporter of the Islamic Republic of Iran, while maintaining an anti-Israel stance. They adhere to twenty doctrinal principles and believe that creedal matters must be derived solely from the Qur'an and Sunna. The society does not exhibit rigidity toward any specific jurisprudential school; rather, they believe that any of the jurists from the four Sunni schools whose fatwa is documented by the Book and Sunna must be followed, even if it does not align with their own specific school.

Influenced by the religious and political thoughts of Sayyid Jamal al-Din al-Asadabadi (d. 1897), Muhammad Abduh (d. 1905), Sayyid Qutb (d. 1966), and Muhammad al-Ghazali (d. 1996), the group was founded in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna in the city of Ismailia, Egypt, to counter the dominance of colonial powers and prevent religious deviations among Muslims.

The Muslim Brotherhood Society has been and remains engaged in struggle to achieve its religious, cultural, military, and political ideals; for this reason, it has been dissolved several times by Egyptian rulers, and a number of its members have been executed. The leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood are known by the title "General Guide" (Murshid 'Amm). They maintain political and doctrinal activities in several Islamic countries including Turkey, Syria, Palestine, Sudan, Yemen, Tunisia, Iran, and Jordan.

Background and Stages of Emergence

Some members of the six-person founding council of the Muslim Brotherhood told Hassan al-Banna in criticism: "We are tired of this humiliating life; in this country, Muslims possess no dignity or respect, and their status is lower than that of servants and foreigners. We are ready to accompany you by sacrificing our blood." After Hassan al-Banna was moved by their words, they took an oath on the spot to act and struggle in the path of Islam as long as they lived. They formed a group and chose the name "Muslim Brotherhood" for it.

It is stated that some of the most important factors of Islamic awakening that led to the formation of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt include:

• The collapse of the Ottoman Empire by military forces in Turkey (1924).
• The weakening of Islamic countries in political, economic, and military matters on one hand, and the strengthening of European countries on the other.
• The occupation of some Islamic countries such as Egypt, Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon by Britain, France, and Italy.
• Westernization and the distancing of Muslims from divine culture and teachings.
• The uprising of Sayyid Jamal al-Din al-Asadabadi for the reform of Islamic societies and the training of students such as Muhammad Abduh.
• The Occupation of Palestine by Britain, its handover to the Zionists, and the preparation for the formation of Israel.

Stages of Emergence

It is stated that with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the resulting power vacuum in the Sunni world, Sunni scholars began to struggle. Muḥammad Rashīd Riḍā wrote the book al-Khilāfa wa l-imāma al-ʿuẓmā to unite the Islamic World. ʿAlī ʿAbd al-Razzāq opposed Rashīd Riḍā's thought by writing the book al-Islām wa uṣūl al-ḥukm. Taking inspiration from the thoughts of Rashīd Riḍā, Hassan al-Banna entered the field with the slogans "Islam is the Solution" and "We are Salafis." Finally, Hassan al-Banna succeeded, with the help and cooperation of a group of Sunnis concerned with Muslim unity, in establishing the Muslim Brotherhood Society through six stages:

Hassan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood

• First stage: The founding of this group, which was carried out in 1346 AH by Hassan al-Banna.
• Second stage: Propagation of the group's goals among Muslims, which continued from 1922 to 1929.
• Third stage: Designing the organizational chart and obtaining a permit from the Egyptian Ministry of Interior, which was done in 1930.
• Fourth stage: The secret formation of the group's military wing, which occurred in 1942.
• Fifth stage: The transformation of the Muslim Brotherhood Society into a political party in the country, which took place in 1945.
• Sixth stage: The final stage during Hassan al-Banna's time, the assassination of Hassan al-Banna in 1368 AH and the election of Hassan al-Hudaybi as the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood (General Guide).

“ Allah is our objective, the Prophet is our model, the Qur'an is our constitution, Jihad is our way, and death in the way of Allah is our highest aspiration, and Islam is the solution.
God is our goal, the Prophet is our role model, the Qur'an is our constitution, Jihad is our path, and death in the way of God is our loftiest wish, and the only solution for salvation and victory is Islam. ” — 

• Source: "Sayr-i shikl-gīrī-yi Ikhwān al-Muslimīn az tashkīl tā turūr-i Ḥassan al-Bannā", Okhowah electronic magazine., Slogan of the Muslim Brotherhood Society

Connection with Shi'as

The Muslim Brotherhood, which is Sunni and possesses Salafi thoughts, seeks unity and the Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought between Shi'a and Sunnis, unlike Wahhabi Salafis. Upon the invitation of Shi'a scholars, they took action to establish "Dar al-Taqrib al-Madhahib al-Islamiyya." Following the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran in 1979, a number of members of this society traveled to Iran and, in a meeting with Imam Khomeini, congratulated him and the Iranian nation on this victory; however, after the emergence of political disputes between the Muslim Brotherhood and the government of Syria and Iran's support for the legal government of that country, the Brotherhood's relations with Iran grew cold.

Doctrinal Principles

The Muslim Brotherhood Society believes that doctrines must be taken from the Qur'an and Sunna, and any of the Imams of the Sunni schools and their jurists whose fatwa is documented by the Book and Sunna must be followed, even if it does not align with their own school.

It is reported that this group possesses twenty doctrinal principles, some of the most important of which are mentioned:

• Principle 1: Islam is a complete religion that possesses a program for all aspects of human life.
• Principles 2, 3, 6, 18, and 19: Epistemic sources and Sharia proofs consist of: the Qur'an, Sunna—the Sunna of the Messenger of Allah (s) and the Sunna of the predecessors (Salaf)—and Reason.
• Principle 4: Dreams and mystical intuition (ishraq) are not among the epistemic sources or Sharia proofs.
• Principles 5 and 7: The door of Ijtihad is open, and anyone who lacks the ability to reach the level of ijtihad in principles and branches must follow one of the Imams of the four schools.
• Principle 8: Jurisprudential differences should not cause enmity among Muslims, and scientific research regarding other Islamic schools is permissible.
• Principle 10: Knowing God the Almighty is the highest of virtues. We believe in the literal meanings of the verses and hadiths regarding informational attributes; but in understanding those attributes, we do not advocate for ta'wil (esoteric interpretation) or suspension of attributes.
• Principles 11 and 12: We advocate for fighting all innovations (bid'as) even if people favor those innovations.
• Principles 13, 14, and 15: Going for the visitation of the graves of the saints and requesting prayers from them is permissible if it is according to the Sunna; but seeking help from them and making vows to them is a greater sin.
• Principle 20: The Muslim Brotherhood Society does not excommunicate any Muslims or the People of the Qibla unless they confess to disbelief, deny one of the essentials of the religion, or do not accept a ruling from those which the Qur'an has explicitly ruled.

Organizational Structure

The main pillars of the Muslim Brotherhood movement include the "General Guide" (al-Murshid al-'Amm), the "Consultative Council or Constituent Body," and the "General Guidance Office."

1. The Consultative Council is the legislative and policy-making authority of the Muslim Brotherhood Society, which is responsible for supervising the society's activities and electing the General Guide, and its resolutions are binding for all members of the society. This council has 30 members elected from among the members of the consultative councils of various regions of Egypt. The members of this council are elected for a period of 4 years.
2. The General Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood is elected by the Consultative Council for a period of 6 years. After the end of his mission, he remains a member of the Consultative Council until the end of his life, unless he is dismissed as a result of negligence in performing his duties.
3. The General Guidance Office of this society is the executive responsible for all activities of the Muslim Brotherhood, having 13 members elected by the Consultative Council from various regions.

Leaders

The leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood Society are known as the "General Guide." This society has had leaders since its inception until now, including:

• Hassan al-Banna (d. 1949), the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood who led the group until 1949.
• Hassan al-Hudaybi (d. 1973) from 1951 to 1973.
• Muhammad Hamid Abu al-Nasr (d. 1996) from 1986 to 1996.
• Mustafa Mashhur (d. 2002) from 1996 to 2002.
• Ma'mun al-Hudaybi (d. 2004) from 2002 to 2004.
• Muhammad Mahdi Akef (d. 2017) from 2004 to 2010.
• Mohammed Badie (d. 2013) from 2010 to 2013.
• Mahmoud Ezzat (the current leader of the Muslim Brotherhood) was elected as the General Guide after the execution of the last leader of the Muslim Brotherhood—Mohammed Badie—in 2013, which continues to this day.

Splits

Although the Muslim Brotherhood was initially a unified group, they faced differences in the manner of domestic and foreign policy and the implementation of Islamic rulings in society, which led to the creation of two splits; one group, led by "Hassan al-Banna, Hassan al-Hudaybi, and Omar Tilmisani," favored rationalism, democracy, and the precedence of the people's will, and opposed the secret activities of Muslim Brotherhood members. They became known as the group "al-Islamiyyun al-Taqaddumiyyun" (Progressive Islamists) or "Reformists" (Islaḥiyyun), who succeeded in forming a political party. Another group, under the spiritual leadership of "Sayyid Qutb", favored the complete and unceasing implementation of all Islamic rulings and had formed a secret military group known as the "Conservatives" or "Organizationalists" (Tanzimiyyun).

Sayyid Qutb, spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Mutual Relationship of Brotherhood Members with Shi'a Scholars

• Sayyid Abu l-Qasim Kashani (d. 1962) met and conversed with Hassan al-Banna in 1948 during the Hajj days. According to Said Ramadan—the son-in-law of Hassan al-Banna and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood leadership cadre—after the killing of Hassan al-Banna, due to Kashani's intimate and close connection with the Brotherhood, he was asked to take over the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood Society, but he declined.
• Sayyid Mujtaba Navvab Safavi: Sayyid Qutb, one of the spiritual leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood and the head of the Jerusalem Islamic Conference, requested Sayyid Mujtaba Navvab Safavi to participate in "al-Muʾtamar al-Islāmī li-l-Quds" (The Islamic Conference for Jerusalem) held in Jordan, which he accepted and attended.
• The movement for translating the books of Brotherhood scholars into Persian by Shi'a scholars:

1. Translation of Sayyid Qutb's books—Fī ẓilāl al-Qurʾān and al-Mustaqbal li-hādha al-dīn—by Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei.

The Muslim Brotherhood book. Muhammad Habib.

1. Translation of the book al-Insān bayn al-māddiyya wa l-Islām written by Muhammad Qutb—the brother of Sayyid Qutb—by Sayyid Hadi Khosroshahi.

• Morteza Motahhari: Despite his close connection with the first-tier scholars of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, he critiqued the Brotherhood scholars in the book ʿIlal-i garāyish bih māddī-garī (Causes of Tendency Toward Materialism) after the neglect by some of them toward "theology."

Bibliography

Numerous books and articles have been written about the Muslim Brotherhood and their thoughts, some of which include:

The book The Muslim Brotherhood by Sadeq Moslehi.

• Ikhwān al-Muslimīn; chih mī-gūyand wa chih mī-khwāhand? (The Muslim Brotherhood; What Do They Say and What Do They Want?), a collection of articles and notes by Sayyid Hadi Khosroshahi about the history, leaders, and thoughts of the Muslim Brotherhood, first published in 2013 by Bustan-e Ketab in Qom.
• al-Ikhwān al-Muslimūn bayn al-Suʿūd wa l-riʾāsa wa taʾākul al-sharʿiyya; Dr. Muhammad Habib, publisher: Sama, Cairo, 2013.
• al-Ikhwān wa Sayyid Quṭb; Dr. Saoud el-Moula, publisher: Dār al-Mashriq, first edition, Cairo, 2017.
• Jamʿiyyat-i Ikhwān al-Muslimīn-i Miṣr; a group of experts from the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS), publisher: IPIS, first edition, Tehran, 1385 SH.
• Ikhwān al-Muslimīn; Sadiq Muslihi Wadiqani, publisher: Dar al-Iʿlām li-Madrasat Ahl al-Bayt (a) Institute, first edition, Qom, 1394 SH.