2. Hassan Al-Banna
Father of Political
Islam
• Born near Cairo 1906
• Islamic family background
• Became schoolteacher in 1927
• Disturbed by
westernization/secularism
• Steeped in Islamic reformers
• Believed Islam must return to pure
form
• Advocated Islamic state
3. The Original Muslim
Brotherhood
• Founded by Al-Banna in 1928
• Sophisticated institution building
• Based in lower middle classes
• Branches throughout Egypt
• Social issues, Islamic world,
Palestine
• Religious piety with political fervor
• Recruited from professional ranks
4. It Did Not End
Well
• MB develops“Secret
Apparatus”
• 1948 murders Prime Minister
• 1949 Al-Banna Assassinated
• MB driven undergound
• Enjoys brief revival under
Nasser
• Disperses after 1954 Nasser
affair
• Members flee or are
imprisoned
5. “During the 1960s, many members of the MB have fled
Egypt to escape persecution by the Egyptian regime.
Most of them settled in European countries or the U.S.
and benefited from the atmosphere of freedom and
prosperity in these countries and continued to practice
and promote moderate Islamic thought. Thus, several
local Islamic organizations were created to help
Muslims integrate within their local communities and
engage in charitable work mandates by Islam. .... In the
U..S, several of these local active groups have merged
and created large national organizations widely known
throughout the country. “
- Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, August 2008
