Islamic extremism in 20th-century Egypt

Islamic extremism in Egypt caused terrorism and controversy during the 20th century and remains an important issue today. Egypt has a long history of radical groups with roots going back many years. These extreme beliefs opposed ideas like democracy, fair laws, and respect for different beliefs.

The conflict between these extreme groups and government leaders came from big debates about how the country should be run and what its beliefs should be. These debates led to serious actions that affected many people across the Middle East. Understanding this history helps us see why these topics still matter in Egypt today. Islamic extremism continues to shape discussions and decisions in the country.

Origins

Islamic extremism began with a group called the Kharijites around 600 CE. They formed during a time when leaders of Islam were being killed. Though the Kharijites no longer exist, their ideas influenced later extremist groups. They believed they could decide who was a true follower of Islam and who was not. These early beliefs helped shape the thoughts of extremist groups in modern times.

20th century

The Society of Muslim Brothers

During the 1900s, Egypt went through many changes as it tried to become its own country and not controlled by others. Many people in Egypt were Muslim, but there were also Jews and Christians. Some people wanted to mix religion and politics, which caused arguments about who should lead the country. In 1928, a man named Hasan al-Banna started a group called the Society of Muslim Brothers. This group believed that laws should follow what their religion taught. The group grew popular in the 1930s and 1940s.

When Gamal Abdel Nasser took control of Egypt in 1953, he worked to stop the Muslim Brothers. By 1954, many leaders of the group were killed or forced to hide.

Sayyid Qutb and Signposts

One member of the Muslim Brothers, Sayyid Qutb, was put in a camp by Nasser. There, he wrote a book called Signposts, which talked about needing big changes to follow their religion properly. Qutb was later executed in 1966, but his ideas continued to influence others.

Shukri Mustafa

Shukri Mustafa joined the Muslim Brothers and later formed a group called al-Takfir wa’l-Hijra. This group believed in completely separating themselves from society. In 1977, Mustafa’s group kidnapped someone, which led to his arrest and execution.

Salih Sirriya

Salih Sirriya tried to plan an attack to take over a school but failed. He was arrested and sentenced to death.

Jama'at Islamiyya

Another group, Jama'at Islamiyya, became powerful on college campuses. They were seen as a threat because many students followed them.

Islamic extremism in the media

Al-Da'wa

After some prisoners were released, they were allowed to publish a magazine called Al-Da'wa. This magazine shared their ideas with the public.

Sheik Kishk

A religious leader named Sheik Kishk became very popular for his speeches, which were recorded and played on the radio.

Al-Jihad

In 1981, President Anwar Sadat was killed by members of a group called al-Jihad. This group wanted to start a big change in Egypt. After Sadat’s death, the group continued to cause trouble.

The end of the century

Under Hosni Mubarak, who took over after Sadat, there were many attacks by radical groups in the 1990s. These groups targeted leaders and caused fear among the people.

Legacy

Even though many people in Egypt support these groups, they are still a small part of the country. Their ideas and actions go against the usual ways people in Egypt understand their faith. For these groups to lead the country, there would need to be big changes in how people think and live.

Many Egyptians also do not believe that just changing the government to follow special religious laws will fix all of the country’s problems. Some thinkers suggest looking at older Islamic ways of choosing leaders as a model for modern changes, but making such big changes in Egyptian life would be very hard.