Muslim Brotherhood

Founded in 1928 by Hasan al-Banna, the Muslim Brotherhood, also known as Muslim Brothers, or Muslim Brethren, is one of the most influential modern Islamic movements. Its name is derived from the verse of Qur'an stating that Muslims are nothing but brothers, and as this name suggests, the movement's major objective is to maintain unity and create a sense of brotherhood among Muslim fellows.

Although it has a well-operating organizational structure and detailed membership procedures, because of its broad social base, activist character, and openness to virtually every Muslim, it should be regarded as a movement, or a society, rather than a [Page 997]formal, exclusive, and restricted organization. Its activism is in general centered on the two interconnected notions of jihad and da'wa, the call to follow the path described in Qur'an and Sunna, the practices and sayings of Prophet Mohammad. Aiming at reviving the sense and spirit of jihad, the movement often makes references to the prophetic era, which it presents as the model for Muslim life.

Unlike the Prophet and his companions, however, the Brethren is not focused on the conversion of non-Muslims. Rather, their activism stresses the importance of liberating the Muslim world from foreign domination. The next step for the Brethren is to maintain an Islamic order in the Muslim world so that all aspects of life are governed by divine authority. The third stage is to educate and enlighten individuals in accordance with Islamic principles and eventually transform the Muslim society as a whole. The movement has been only partially successful in achieving these goals. Nevertheless, its impact as a source of inspiration on the modern Islamic social movements demanding an Islamic state cannot be ignored.

The movement has wielded an array of methods and means in its activities, including political processes. It sees the political campaigns and elections as opportunities for disseminating the message of Islam. When it has been allowed to run for political posts, it has proved to be successful. The electoral success can be explained best by its members' noninvolvement in corruption and its charitable acts, such as sheltering and feeding the poor, building social institutions, and providing health care. Since the movement excludes revolution as a means for change, the aforesaid activities are meant to serve its ultimate goal. While the movement has an established policy of nonviolence, and its founders and the leading figures have often stated their opposition to violent actions, its individual members and sympathizers have occasionally committed crimes that could be called terrorist actions. Although those kinds of action are sporadic, the assassination of some leading political figures, including the Egyptian president Anwar as-Sadat, and the worldwide recognition of Hamas, its early extension in Palestine, as a terrorist organization have contributed significantly to the connection made between terrorism and the movement.