Sayyid Qutb was born on September 10, 1906, in Egypt. He grew up in a politically active family, with his father being a noted political activist. From a young age, he learned about political debate and Qur'anic tradition from his father, which would shape his future ideologies.
In 1949, Qutb traveled to the United States to continue his studies in educational administration. It was during his time in the U.S. that he became disillusioned with what he perceived as the country's immorality. He wrote about the open mixing of the sexes, materialism, and racism that he witnessed, which would inspire his later political beliefs.
Upon his return to Egypt, Sayyid Qutb joined the Muslim Brotherhood, a political organization that aimed to establish an Islamic state based on Sharia law. Qutb quickly rose through the ranks and became the head of its propaganda, advocating for the implementation of Islamic governance in Egypt.
Qutb's writings, which criticized Western influence and advocated for a return to Islamic values, inspired radical groups like al Qaeda. His belief in the incompatibility of Islamic and Western values fueled the anti-Western sentiment that would shape the Middle East for decades to come.
In 1966, Sayyid Qutb was convicted of plotting the assassination of Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser. He was sentenced to death and executed, becoming a martyr to his followers.
Despite his controversial beliefs and actions, Sayyid Qutb remains a significant figure in Islamic political thought, his ideas continuing to shape the discourse around the relationship between the Muslim world and the West.
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