Brian4Liberty
06-26-2016, 12:24 PM
A recent CNN documentary with Fareed Zakaria claims that modern radical Islam originated with an Egyptian named Sayyid Qutb who came to the US as a student.
As Zakaria is essentially a mouthpiece for the CFR, this would be an establishment approved narrative, and likely the origin of the "they hate us for our freedom" meme. While that is an incomplete, dated and overly simplified explanation, it seems that the roots of today's radical Islam owe a lot to Sayyid Qutb.
Even though most of his observations and criticism were leveled at theMuslim world, Qutb is also known for his intense disapproval of the society and*culture of the United States,[4][5]which he saw as obsessed withmaterialism, violence, and sexual pleasures.[6]*Views on Qutb vary widely. He has been described by followers as a great thinker and*martyr for Islam,[7][8]*while many Western observers see him as a key originator of*Islamist*ideology.[9]*Others in the West believe Qutb is an inspiration for violent groups such as*al-Qaeda.
...
Al-Qaeda and Islamic Jihad
Qutb had influence on Islamic insurgent/terror groups in Egypt[69]and elsewhere. His influence on*al-Qaeda*was felt through his writing, his followers and especially through his brother,*Muhammad Qutb, who moved to*Saudi Arabia*following his release from prison in Egypt and became a professor of*Islamic Studies*and edited, published and promoted his brother Sayyid's work.[88][89]
One of Muhammad Qutb's students and later an ardent follower wasAyman Zawahiri, who went on to become a member of the*Egyptian Islamic Jihad[90]*and later a mentor ofOsama bin Laden*and a leading member of al-Qaeda.[91]*Zawahiri was first introduced to Qutb by his uncle and maternal family patriarch, Mafouz Azzam, who was very close to Qutb throughout his life. Azzam was Qutb's student, then protégé, then personal lawyer and executor of his estate—one of the last people to see Qutb before his execution. According to*Lawrence Wright, who interviewed Azzam, "young Ayman al-Zawahiri heard again and again from his beloved uncle Mahfouz about the purity of Qutb's character and the torment he had endured in prison."[92]*Zawahiri paid homage to Qutb in his work*Knights under the Prophet's Banner.[93]
Osama bin Laden, first leader of*al-Qaeda.
Anwar al-Awlaki
Osama bin Laden*was also acquainted with Sayyid's brother,*Muhammad Qutb. A close college friend of bin Laden's,*Mohammed Jamal Khalifa, told Wright, that bin Laden regularly attended weekly public lectures by Muhammad Qutb, at*King Abdulaziz University, and that he and bin Laden both "read Sayyid Qutb. He was the one who most affected our generation."[94]
While imprisoned in Yemen,*Anwar al-Awlaki*became influenced by the works of Qutb.[95]*He would read 150–200 pages a day of Qutb's works, describing himself during the course of his reading as "so immersed with the author I would feel Sayyid was with me in my cell speaking to me directly."[95]
On the other hand, associate professor of history at Creighton University,*John Calvert, states that "the al-Qaeda threat" has "monopolized and distorted our understanding" of Qutb's "real contribution to contemporary Islamism."[96]
...
More: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayyid_Qutb
As Zakaria is essentially a mouthpiece for the CFR, this would be an establishment approved narrative, and likely the origin of the "they hate us for our freedom" meme. While that is an incomplete, dated and overly simplified explanation, it seems that the roots of today's radical Islam owe a lot to Sayyid Qutb.
Even though most of his observations and criticism were leveled at theMuslim world, Qutb is also known for his intense disapproval of the society and*culture of the United States,[4][5]which he saw as obsessed withmaterialism, violence, and sexual pleasures.[6]*Views on Qutb vary widely. He has been described by followers as a great thinker and*martyr for Islam,[7][8]*while many Western observers see him as a key originator of*Islamist*ideology.[9]*Others in the West believe Qutb is an inspiration for violent groups such as*al-Qaeda.
...
Al-Qaeda and Islamic Jihad
Qutb had influence on Islamic insurgent/terror groups in Egypt[69]and elsewhere. His influence on*al-Qaeda*was felt through his writing, his followers and especially through his brother,*Muhammad Qutb, who moved to*Saudi Arabia*following his release from prison in Egypt and became a professor of*Islamic Studies*and edited, published and promoted his brother Sayyid's work.[88][89]
One of Muhammad Qutb's students and later an ardent follower wasAyman Zawahiri, who went on to become a member of the*Egyptian Islamic Jihad[90]*and later a mentor ofOsama bin Laden*and a leading member of al-Qaeda.[91]*Zawahiri was first introduced to Qutb by his uncle and maternal family patriarch, Mafouz Azzam, who was very close to Qutb throughout his life. Azzam was Qutb's student, then protégé, then personal lawyer and executor of his estate—one of the last people to see Qutb before his execution. According to*Lawrence Wright, who interviewed Azzam, "young Ayman al-Zawahiri heard again and again from his beloved uncle Mahfouz about the purity of Qutb's character and the torment he had endured in prison."[92]*Zawahiri paid homage to Qutb in his work*Knights under the Prophet's Banner.[93]
Osama bin Laden, first leader of*al-Qaeda.
Anwar al-Awlaki
Osama bin Laden*was also acquainted with Sayyid's brother,*Muhammad Qutb. A close college friend of bin Laden's,*Mohammed Jamal Khalifa, told Wright, that bin Laden regularly attended weekly public lectures by Muhammad Qutb, at*King Abdulaziz University, and that he and bin Laden both "read Sayyid Qutb. He was the one who most affected our generation."[94]
While imprisoned in Yemen,*Anwar al-Awlaki*became influenced by the works of Qutb.[95]*He would read 150–200 pages a day of Qutb's works, describing himself during the course of his reading as "so immersed with the author I would feel Sayyid was with me in my cell speaking to me directly."[95]
On the other hand, associate professor of history at Creighton University,*John Calvert, states that "the al-Qaeda threat" has "monopolized and distorted our understanding" of Qutb's "real contribution to contemporary Islamism."[96]
...
More: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayyid_Qutb