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Hassan al-Banna
Egyptian founder of the Muslim Brotherhood (1906–1949) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Hassan Ahmed Abdel Rahman Muhammed al-Banna (Arabic: حسن أحمد عبد الرحمن محمد البنا; 14 October 1906 – 12 February 1949), known as Hassan al-Banna (Arabic: حسن البنا), was an Egyptian schoolteacher and Imam, best known for founding the Muslim Brotherhood, one of the largest and most influential Islamic revivalist organizations.[8]
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Al-Banna's writings marked a turning-point in Islamic intellectual history by presenting a modern ideology based on Islam.[9] Al-Banna considered Islam to be a comprehensive system of life, with the Quran and Sunnah as the only acceptable constitution.[10] He called for Islamization of the state, the economy, and society.[9] He declared that establishing a just society required development of institutions and progressive taxation, and elaborated an Islamic fiscal theory where zakat would be reserved for social expenditure in order to reduce inequality.[10][9] Al-Banna's ideology involved criticism of Western materialism, British imperialism, and the traditionalism of the Egyptian ulema.[11] He appealed to Egyptian and pan-Arab patriotism but rejected Arab nationalism and regarded all Muslims as members of a single nation-community.[10][9][11]
The Muslim Brotherhood advocated gradualist moral reform and had no plans for a violent takeover of power.[12] The "Jihad of the spirit"―self-initiated productive work aimed at bettering the conditions of the Islamic community―was a significant part of their ideology.[9] Under Al-Banna's leadership, the organization embarked on a wide-ranging campaign of social engagement; they especially emphasized public health improvements.[11] Following the abolition of the Caliphate in 1924, al-Banna called on Muslims to prepare for armed struggle against colonial rule; he warned Muslims against the "widespread belief" that "jihad of the heart" was more important than "jihad of the sword".[12] He allowed the formation of a secret military wing within the Muslim Brotherhood, which took part in the Arab-Israeli conflict.[11] Al-Banna generally encouraged Egyptians to abandon Western customs; and argued that the state should enforce Islamic public morality through censorship and application of hudud corporal punishment.[9] Nonetheless, his thought was open to Western ideas and some of his writings quote European authors instead of Islamic sources.[9]
Al-Banna was assassinated by the Egyptian secret police in 1949.[10] His son-in-law Said Ramadan emerged as a major leader of the Muslim Brotherhood in the 1950s.