Hassan Al-Banna Egyptian politician, Islamic preacher and reformer. Date of Birth: 14.10.1906 Country: Egypt

1. Hassan al-Banna: Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood
2. Early Life and Career
3. Founding the Muslim Brotherhood
4. Call for Islamic Revival
5. Rapid Growth and Influence
6. Assassination and Legacy

Hassan al-Banna: Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood

Hassan al-Banna, an Egyptian political figure, Islamic preacher, and reformer, was the driving force behind the establishment of the Muslim Brotherhood, a global Islamic political and religious organization.

Early Life and Career

Al-Banna received his education at the Dar al-ʿUlūm Institute of Pedagogy and began his career as a teacher in 1927 at a state school in Ismailia, Egypt. He held this position until 1946.

Founding the Muslim Brotherhood

In 1928, al-Banna, along with six workers from the Suez Canal Company, founded the Muslim Brotherhood ("Ikhwan al-Muslimin"). The organization's goals included promoting Islamic values, supporting charitable activities, combating Western decadence, and fighting against capitalist exploitation.

Call for Islamic Revival

In the 1930s, the Muslim Brotherhood advocated for a return to the fundamental principles of Islam and the establishment of an Islamic state. Al-Banna articulated these views in his 1936 treatise, "To the Light," addressed to the Egyptian king and other Arab leaders. He also supported an offensive jihad against those who oppressed Muslims.

Rapid Growth and Influence

Under al-Banna's leadership, the Muslim Brotherhood expanded rapidly, boasting 60,000 members by 1941 and 500,000 members, plus hundreds of thousands of sympathizers, by 1948. The organization had its own mosques, businesses, factories, hospitals, and schools, and its members held influential positions in both the army and labor unions.

Assassination and Legacy

Following alleged attacks by Muslim Brotherhood members on political figures and suspicions of an impending coup, Prime Minister Mahmoud Fahmy al-Nokrashi banned the organization in 1948. Al-Banna was assassinated on February 12, 1949, in Cairo, and his killer was never apprehended. Hassan al-Hudaybi succeeded him as leader of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Al-Banna's grandson, Tariq Ramadan, is a renowned Islamic scholar and the son of his daughter and influential thinker, Said Ramadan. Al-Banna's younger brother, Gamal al-Banna, was a liberal Islamic scholar.