Sayyid Qutb

Author profile

born

October 09, 1906 in Assiut, Egypt

died

August 29, 1966

gender

male

genre

Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy

About this author

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The saying that ‘The pen is mightier than the sword’ accurately describes the life-story of Sayyid Qutb (1906 – 1966); Who was an Egyptian prominent revivalist, ideologue, thinker, and a leading intellectual of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood (al 'Ikhwan ul- Muslimun) in the 1950s and 60s.

He is best known for his work on redefining the role of Islam in social and political change, particularly in his book Ma'alimu fi-l-Tareeq (Milestones). But the majority of his theory could be found in his extensive Qur'anic commentary(tafseer) : Fi zilal il-Qur'an (In the shade of the Qur'an); the noteworthy multi-volume work for its innovative method of interpretation; which contributed significantly to modern perceptions of Islamic concepts.

His early l...more The saying that ‘The pen is mightier than the sword’ accurately describes the life-story of Sayyid Qutb (1906 – 1966); Who was an Egyptian prominent revivalist, ideologue, thinker, and a leading intellectual of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood (al 'Ikhwan ul- Muslimun) in the 1950s and 60s.

He is best known for his work on redefining the role of Islam in social and political change, particularly in his book Ma'alimu fi-l-Tareeq (Milestones). But the majority of his theory could be found in his extensive Qur'anic commentary(tafseer) : Fi zilal il-Qur'an (In the shade of the Qur'an); the noteworthy multi-volume work for its innovative method of interpretation; which contributed significantly to modern perceptions of Islamic concepts.

His early life was spent in an Egyptian village. Then he moved to Cairo where he received his university education between 1929 and 1933, and where he started his career as a teacher.
During his early career, Qutb devoted himself to literature as an author and critic.
Writing such novels as Ashwak (Thorns) and even elevating Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz from obscurity.
In 1939, he became a functionary in Egypt's Ministry of Education (Wizarat ul-Ma'arif ).
From 1948 to 1950, he went to the United States on a scholarship to study the educational system, studying at Colorado State College of Education (Now the University of Northern Colorado).

It was during this period that Qutb wrote his first major theoretical work of religious social criticism, al-'Adala Tul-Ijtima'iyyatu Fil-Islam (Social Justice in Islam), which was published in 1949, during his time overseas.

Though Islam gave him much peace and contentment, he suffered from respiratory and other health problems throughout his life, thus he never married.

Qutb was extremely critical of many things in the United States: its materialism, brutal individualism, merciless economic system, unreasonable restrictions on divorce, sick enthusiasm for sports, "animal-like" mixing of the sexes (which went on even in churches), and lack of support for the Palestinian struggle.

Qutb discovered -very early- that the major aspects of the American life were primitive and "shocking".

His experience in the United States is believed to have formed in part the impetus for his rejection of Western values and his move towards Islam upon returning to Egypt. Resigning from the civil service, he joined the Muslim Brotherhood in the early 1950s and became editor-in-chief of the Brothers' weekly al-'Ikhwan ul-Muslimun, and later head of the propaganda section, as well as an appointed member of the Working Committee and of the Guidance Council, the highest branch (less)

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Books by Sayyid Qutb

Average rating: 4.02 · 772 ratings · 128 reviews · 21 distinct works

	في ظلال القرآن 1/6 4.52 avg rating — 617 ratings — published 1972 — 36 editions	My rating:
	معالم في الطريق by سيد قطب, Sayyid Qutb 3.96 avg rating — 528 ratings — published 1973 — 16 editions	My rating:
	Social Justice in Islam by Sayyid Qutb, Hamid Algar (Translator), John B. Hardie (Translator) 3.87 avg rating — 38 ratings — published 1999 — 2 editions	My rating:
	Inilah Islam 4.50 avg rating — 10 ratings	My rating:
	A Child from the Village by Sayyid Qutb, William Shepard (Translator), John Calvert (Translator) 3.89 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 2004	My rating:
	Manhaj Hidup Muslim by Sayyid Qutb, AbulA'ala Al-Mawdudi, Hafid Muhammad 'Uthman 4.22 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 1985	My rating:
	Beberapa Studi Tentang Islam 4.44 avg rating — 9 ratings — 3 editions	My rating:
	Indahnya Al-Qur'an Berkisah by Sayyid Qutb, Fathurrahman Abdul Hamid (Translator), Abu Hanifah (Editor) 3.86 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 1968	My rating:
	Ijtihad Cinta 4.50 avg rating — 6 ratings	My rating:
	Basic Principles of the Islamic Worldview by Sayyid Qutb, Hamid Algar, Rami David 3.57 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 1995 — 2 editions	My rating:

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Quotes by Sayyid Qutb

“من الصعب علي أن أتصور كيف يمكن أن نصل إلى غاية نبيلة باستخدام وسيلة خسيسة !؟ إن الغاية النبيلة لا تحيا إلا في قلب نبيل : فكيف يمكن لذلك القلب أن يطيق استخدام وسيلة خسيسة ؛

بل كيف يهتدي إلى استخدام هذه الوسيلة حين نخوض إلى الشط الممرع بركة من الوحل لابد أن نصل إلى شط الملوثين .. أن أوحال الطريق ستترك آثارها على أقدامنا وعلى مواضع هذه الأقدام كذلك الحال حين نستخدم وسيلة خسيسة : إن الدنس سيعلق بأرواحنا ، ويسترك آثاره في هذه الأرواح ، وفي الغاية التي وصلنا إليها !.

إن الوسيلة في حساب الروح جزء من الغاية. ففي عالم الروح لا توجد هذه الفوارق والتقسيمات ! الشعور الإنساني وحده إذا أحس غاية نبيلة فلن يطيق استخدام وسيلة خسيسة .. بل لن يهتدي إلى استخدامها بطبيعته ! (( الغاية تبرر الوسيلة !؟ )) : تلك هي حكمة الغرب الكبرى !! لأن الغرب يحيا بذهنه وفي الذهن يمكن أن توجد التقسيمات والفوارق بين الوسائل والغايات !.

إن الوسيلة في حساب الروح جزء من الغاية . ففي عالم الروح لا توجد هذه الفوارق والتقسيمات ! الشعور الإنساني وحده إذا حس غاية نبيلة فلن يطيق استخدام وسيلة خسيسة .. بل لن يهتدي إلى استخدامها بطبيعته ! (( الغاية تبرر الوسيلة !؟ )) : تلك هي حكمة الغرب الكبرى !! لأن الغرب يحيا بذهنه وفي الذهن يمكن أن توجد التقسيمات والفوارق بين الوسائل والغايات !.”
― Sayyid Qutb, أفراح الروح

tags: الشعور-الإنساني , الغاية , الوسيلة , قلب , نبيل

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Sayyid Qutb

Author profile

combine editionsBooks by Sayyid Qutb

Quotes by Sayyid Qutb

combine editions
Books by Sayyid Qutb