Sayyid Qutb

Abstract

Sayyid Qutb’s influence upon radical Islamic movements during the secondhalf of the twentieth century is undeniable and has long been recognized. Recentinterest in the rise of radical Islam has led to a number of publications onhim, including a biography by James Calvert and several pieces that analyzecertain aspects of his ideology and writings. James Toth’s new text, whichpresents a general biography of Qutb, seeks to combine these functions byemphasizing the trajectory of his literary career along with offering a topicalanalysis of the major themes found within his writings. At the same time, Tothprovides a fresh and comprehensive evaluation of the career and impact ofthis famous Islamist ideologue.The book is divided into two main sections, the first of which describesQutb’s life story from his childhood in Upper Egypt through his secular writingcareer, increasing radicalization, involvement with the Muslim Brotherhood,prison years, and eventual execution by the Egyptian government in1966. The second section, which provides a detailed analysis of his ideology,draws heavily from his writings and is arranged thematically. In it, Tothtouches on such important topics as Qutb’s interpretation of Islam, his viewof it as a revitalization movement, his vision for an Islamic society and economicsystem, and his understanding of the Islamic state and history. The bookalso includes a lengthy appendix, with special sections that provide short biographiesson prior Islamic writers who influenced Qutb’s thinking as wellas summaries of his views on women/family, dhimmīs (non-Muslims livingin a Muslim society), and apologetics. It concludes with a detailed collectionof notes as well as a comprehensive bibliography and index.Rather than presenting Qutb’s move toward radicalism as a sharp departurefrom his prior values and beliefs, Toth seeks to ground his convictionswithin the context of his childhood in a small Upper Egyptian village and toidentify consistent themes that reoccurred throughout his career. During hisapproximately fifteen years as a literary critic, Qutb focused on poetry andassociated himself with the Diwan school of literary criticism led by his mentorAbbas al-‘Aqqad. This school emphasized modernity, individualism, andsecularism, three principles that he would reject later on during the radicalphase of his career. Yet he was always a person of strong convictions, onewho had an abiding religious orientation, an interest in pedagogy, and a some ...