Qutbism
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Qutbism is the Islamic strain of thought and activism, or ideology, based on the thought and writings of Sayyid Qutb. The term Qutbee is used as a name for followers of these ideals, but the term is more often used as a negative label by Wahhabis or other critics, people who disagree with the Muslim Brotherhood, or want to distance themselves from the activities of militant groups whose ideology and activism is based on Sayyid Qutb's writings. "Qutbees" usually do not refer to themselves using this name.
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Sayyid Qutb
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The Tenets of Qutbism
The main tenet of Qutbist ideology is the belief that almost all of Islam is heading into the era of pre-Islamic Arabs or Jahiliyya, and must be reconquered. It is one of the two main strands of Salafi thought, the other being Wahhabism.
Qutb outlined his ideas in his book Milestones. The main principle of Qutbism is clearly stated when Qutb writes that "Muslims have drifted away from their religion and their way of life, and have forgotten that Islam appointed them as representatives of God and made them responsible for learning all the sciences and developing various capabilities to fulfill this high position which God has granted them."
Qutb encouraged Muslims to seek knowledge. In Milestones he states:
- A Muslim can go to a Muslim or to a non-Muslim to learn abstract sciences such as chemistry, physics, biology, astronomy, medicine, industry, agriculture, administration (limited to its technical aspects), technology, military arts and similar sciences and arts; although the fundamental principle is that when the Muslim community comes into existence it should provide experts in all these fields in abundance, as all these sciences and arts are a sufficient obligation (Fard al-Kifayah) on Muslims (that is to say, there ought to be a sufficient number of people who specialize in these various sciences and arts to satisfy the needs of the community). If a proper atmosphere is not provided under which these sciences and arts develop in a Muslim society, the whole society will be considered sinful; but as long as these conditions are not attained, it is permitted for a Muslim to learn them from a Muslim or a non-Muslim and to gain experience under his direction, without any distinction of religion.
Qutb freely uses the word "Jahiliyya" repeatedly in Milestones to refer to Arabs who have gone backwards in their reasoning to the pre-Islamic era. The word Jahiliyya in Arabic means "moral ignorance". In light of the quest for knowledge, he encourages Muslims to read books by Jahilis. In one passage, Qutb writes:
- A Muslim can study all the opinions and thoughts of jahili writers, not from the point of view of constructing his own beliefs and concepts, but for the purpose of knowing the deviations adopted by Jahiliyyah, so that he may know how to correct these man-made deviations in the light of the true Islamic belief and rebut them according to the sound principles of the Islamic teachings.
Qutb believed that religious knowledge must also be sought, he believed that the quest for worldy knowledge and "Jahiliyyah" beliefs and practicies was too rampant.
Qutb wrote:
- A person who is negligent in remembering God and is completely occupied with the affairs of this life — and that is the case with all the 'scientists' of today — knows only what is apparent, and this is not the type of knowledge, for which a Muslim can rely completely on its possessor, except for what is permitted to be learned from them to the extent of technical knowledge. He should ignore their interpretations concerning psychological and conceptual matters. This is not that knowledge which is praised repeatedly in the Qur'an.
Muslim Brotherhood
Sayyid Qutb was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, and therefore Qutb's ideas are fully present in the Muslim Brotherhood.
He was imprisoned and eventually executed by Gamal Abdel Nasser, even after pleas by a more moderate Wahabbi, Saudi Scholar bin Baz.
Bin Baz at the time, along with the Saudi royal family, wanted an end to the secular socialist thinking of Nasser, and so supported the Muslim Brotherhood.
History of the word "Qutbee"
After Qutb's death, with the proliferation of his ideas throughout the Middle East, Wahabbi and Salafi scholars disagreed with many of the opinions of Sayyid Qutb. Some scholars even claimed Qutb was a heretic for using the term "Jahiliyya" to apply to believing Muslims. Thus, the word Qutbee was first found to be formed by Saudi Arabian Salafis and Wahhabis in referring to the Muslim Brotherhood and their sympathizers. The word is used by Salafis and Wahhabis in the same way that the word "Wahhabi" is used by many other Muslims in a negative sense. Extreme Salafis and Wahhabis consider the alleged "Qutbees" as a deviant sect.
Bin Laden the Qutbee?
Wahhabi Muslims were outraged by the alleged linkage between Osama bin Laden and Wahhabism brought up by Western writers. Wahhabis claimed Osama bin Laden in fact disagreed with Wahhabism, as shown by Bin Laden's quote about Wahhabi scholars "An idol to be worshipped aside from God."
Some Wahhabis say that Bin Laden is influenced by Qutbee ideology, and is in fact a "Qutbee". Osama bin Laden himself has never identified himself with a particular sect of Islam aside from traditional Sunni Islam, but has been influenced by the writings of the Muslim Brotherhood and Sayyid Qutb.
Bin Laden's recent audio tape accepting the allegiance of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi who has been said to follow Salafi Islam has proven that Bin Laden at least has Qutbist Salafi tendencies.
The Invention of Qutbism?
Some traditional Sunni scholars and Muslim Brotherhood members reject the claim of "Qutbist Ideology". They claim that this ideology has been an invented as a scapegoat by the Saudi Arabian Government and extreme Wahhabi and even some Sunni scholars.
Mainstream Sunni orthodoxy accepts that Sayyid Qutb did not establish a new religion, or a new sect, or anything of the type. He was solely a scholar with views on Islam. Some are rejected and some are accepted. Shaykh Abdul Hakeem Murad, a mainstream traditional Sunni scholar blames Qutbist thought for "Islamic terror" and the attacks of 9/11.
Although there is no sect identified as "Qutbist" it is apparent that many followers of Sayyid Qutb share a common ideology and are members of the Salafi "sect" of Islam.
See also
- Note on Salafi vs. Wahabi vs. Qutubi at Salafi
Further reading
- Berman, Paul. Terror and Liberalism. W. W. Norton & Company, April 2003.
- Berman devotes several chapters of this work to discussing Qutb as the foundation of a unique strain of Islamist thought.