ACT 1
Some 50 years ago lived a man in Egypt by the name of Syed Qutub. A school teacher, Qutub in his early career devoted himself to literature as an author and critic, however on a scholarly trip abroad to the US in the period 1948-50 he became disillusioned with aspects of American life he described as decadent materialism and extravagant sin. On his return back he left the civil service and joined the Muslim brotherhood.
At that time, the writings of Maulana Maududi from the Indian subcontinent became exceedingly popular. Qutub was drawn to Maududis ideas of creating an Islamic State and started to berate current Muslim governments as having reverted back to the pre-Islam state of "jahiliya" or ignorance. His Ideas were further cemented and radicalised when the Egyptian military dictator Nasser cracked down on the Muslim brotherhood and imprisoned qutub along with other leaders. It was during his incarceration that he wrote the Ma'alim fi-l-Tariq (Milestones), one of the most comprehensive works on Islamism.
Qutubs ideas hence became more radical and he called for the violent overthrow of Muslim governments who, as I mentioned, he considered having reverted back to jahiliyah. Obviously, a military dictator wouldn't stand for this...Nasser had qutub tortured and finally sentenced him to death. He was Killed on august 29 1966, with most of the top cadres of Muslim brotherhood either gone underground or kicked out of the country.
It was at this time, that Mohammad Qutub, Syed Qutubs brother....fled to Saudia Arabia and became a university lecturer. A young Ayman al Zawahiri was one of his followers, as was Osama bin Laden, who used to come and attend Mohammad Qutubs weekly lectures at King Fahad University.
As luck would have it..the soviets invaded Afghanistan and Reagan and his cronies impressed on the Muslim world the need to fight "godlessness". Western Countries along with there Muslim adherents created whole groups of "freedom fighters" to fight the evil soviet army. It was at this time that a man called Abdullah Azzam rose to prominence. He theorised that it was the moral obligation of Muslims to fight where ever and when ever there Muslim brethren were in trouble. Fortunately for him..at that particular time the west had accepted these ideas, as they needed jihadis to do there bidding. Abdullah Azzam however was soon killed when he was not use full any more..but his teachings stuck with one of his followers...the 30 something Osama Bin Laden.
Fast forward to Act 2 Part 1: The Saudis asked the US to "help" in protecting its territory from Saddam's expansionist plans..this off course was not going to sit well with the Osama and his ilk. He condemned the Saudi prince hood for allowing foreigners in sacred land and as a result was thrown out of the Kingdom only to resurface in Afghanistan during the late 90s. There in 1998 he made a public announcement saying that it was the moral duty of each and every Muslim to liberate Al Aqsa and Kabaa from the grip of America and its allies..
Act 2 Part 2 and the tragic end manifested itself on the 11Th of September 2001.
Some 50 years ago lived a man in Egypt by the name of Syed Qutub. A school teacher, Qutub in his early career devoted himself to literature as an author and critic, however on a scholarly trip abroad to the US in the period 1948-50 he became disillusioned with aspects of American life he described as decadent materialism and extravagant sin. On his return back he left the civil service and joined the Muslim brotherhood.
At that time, the writings of Maulana Maududi from the Indian subcontinent became exceedingly popular. Qutub was drawn to Maududis ideas of creating an Islamic State and started to berate current Muslim governments as having reverted back to the pre-Islam state of "jahiliya" or ignorance. His Ideas were further cemented and radicalised when the Egyptian military dictator Nasser cracked down on the Muslim brotherhood and imprisoned qutub along with other leaders. It was during his incarceration that he wrote the Ma'alim fi-l-Tariq (Milestones), one of the most comprehensive works on Islamism.
Qutubs ideas hence became more radical and he called for the violent overthrow of Muslim governments who, as I mentioned, he considered having reverted back to jahiliyah. Obviously, a military dictator wouldn't stand for this...Nasser had qutub tortured and finally sentenced him to death. He was Killed on august 29 1966, with most of the top cadres of Muslim brotherhood either gone underground or kicked out of the country.
It was at this time, that Mohammad Qutub, Syed Qutubs brother....fled to Saudia Arabia and became a university lecturer. A young Ayman al Zawahiri was one of his followers, as was Osama bin Laden, who used to come and attend Mohammad Qutubs weekly lectures at King Fahad University.
As luck would have it..the soviets invaded Afghanistan and Reagan and his cronies impressed on the Muslim world the need to fight "godlessness". Western Countries along with there Muslim adherents created whole groups of "freedom fighters" to fight the evil soviet army. It was at this time that a man called Abdullah Azzam rose to prominence. He theorised that it was the moral obligation of Muslims to fight where ever and when ever there Muslim brethren were in trouble. Fortunately for him..at that particular time the west had accepted these ideas, as they needed jihadis to do there bidding. Abdullah Azzam however was soon killed when he was not use full any more..but his teachings stuck with one of his followers...the 30 something Osama Bin Laden.
Fast forward to Act 2 Part 1: The Saudis asked the US to "help" in protecting its territory from Saddam's expansionist plans..this off course was not going to sit well with the Osama and his ilk. He condemned the Saudi prince hood for allowing foreigners in sacred land and as a result was thrown out of the Kingdom only to resurface in Afghanistan during the late 90s. There in 1998 he made a public announcement saying that it was the moral duty of each and every Muslim to liberate Al Aqsa and Kabaa from the grip of America and its allies..
Act 2 Part 2 and the tragic end manifested itself on the 11Th of September 2001.
