Muslim Brotherhood: I Period (1928-1951)

Origin and first development

In its first period, Muslim Brotherhood was a benevolent Muslim society and a mass movement.

Historical context:
- decline of Ottoman Empire (it fell in 1924);
- during World War I Britain and France had discussed about the partition of the Empire;
- 1919: Egyptian Revolution: it was a strong revolution, with all social classes engaged against Britain (occupying the country since 1882);
- 1922: independence of Egypt from Britain.

- 1922-1952: LIBERAL PERIOD of Egyptian contemporary history.

Political actors:
- Monarchy;
- Great Britain (controlling Suez, energetic policy);
- AL-WAFD (the most important nationalist party).

IDEOLOGY

Because of the importance of Egyptian Revolution, the most diffused secular ideology was nationalism (it was not a religious category).
At the same, Egypt maintained its religious traditions ➔ various religious trends:
“TRADITIONAL ISLAM”: elaborated by Al-Azhar University;
“SALAFIYYA”: renewal of Islamic thought to contrast Western theoretical paradigm;
“POPULAR ISLAM”: monopolized by Sufi orders;
ISLAMIC CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES (Benevolent Islamic Societies).

➔ soon a leader emerged: HASAN AL-BANNA (1906-1949)
His writings have deeply influenced the Muslim Brotherhood since now.
He had a deep knowledge of Islamic thought and wanted to avoid traditionalism (on the rise in that period). He was influenced by 3 important factors:
1) SUFISM: he became a disciple of the Sufi order, characterized by a fervent spiritual attitude towards reality.
2) EGYPTIAN REVOLUTION: nationalist sentiment against British occupation ➔ Al-Banna was engaged in printing pamphlets, with the main target to fight against Christian missioners.
3) Experience in DAR AL-‘ULUM COLLEGE.

SYNCRETISM between a spiritual attitude and a political attitude diffused all over the country.

Muslim Brothers’ ideology
- Spiritual power traditionally detained by the Sufi Orders.
- Scientific power detained by al-Azhar University.
- Practical power detained by Islamic benevolent societies.
- Al-Banna wrote articles criticizing those who traditionally detained those powers and accused them especially of being against any process of renewal and modernization.
- According to Al-Banna, there was confusion about the social system because it was designed on the basis of British one and it was not appropriate for Egyptian society.