Muslim Brotherhood

Definition

The Muslim Brotherhood is a transnational Islamic organization founded in Egypt in 1928, with the aim of promoting Islamic values and governance based on Sharia law. It has played a significant role in political movements across the Arab world, influencing various social and political changes, especially in relation to Western interventions such as the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Balfour Declaration.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Muslim Brotherhood was founded by Hassan al-Banna in 1928 in Egypt as a response to colonialism and perceived moral decay.
2. The organization emphasizes social welfare programs alongside its political agenda, seeking to improve education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation within Muslim societies.
3. The Brotherhood's ideology has influenced many Islamist movements across the Middle East and North Africa, often advocating for a balance between religion and state affairs.
4. Throughout its history, the Muslim Brotherhood has faced varying degrees of repression from governments, especially in Egypt, where it was banned several times.
5. The group's response to Western interventions, like the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Balfour Declaration, has fueled its narrative of resistance against foreign influence in Muslim-majority countries.

Review Questions

• How did the founding principles of the Muslim Brotherhood shape its response to colonialism and foreign interventions in the Middle East?
  • The founding principles of the Muslim Brotherhood were deeply rooted in a desire to restore Islamic values and address the challenges posed by colonialism. The organization emerged as a reaction against foreign rule and cultural imperialism, promoting a vision of governance based on Islamic law. This perspective significantly influenced its responses to interventions like the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Balfour Declaration, as the Brotherhood positioned itself as a defender of Muslim interests against perceived Western encroachment.
• Evaluate the impact of the Muslim Brotherhood's social welfare programs on its political influence within Egyptian society.
  • The Muslim Brotherhood's emphasis on social welfare programs has greatly enhanced its political influence within Egyptian society by addressing immediate needs such as education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation. By providing these services, the organization built strong grassroots support among communities that felt neglected by the government. This strategy not only helped legitimize their political agenda but also allowed them to cultivate a loyal base that contributed to their electoral successes and political resilience during periods of repression.
• Discuss how the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood has evolved over time and how this evolution interacts with historical events such as the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Balfour Declaration.
  • The ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood has evolved from a primarily nationalist focus on resisting colonial powers to a broader Islamic political movement advocating for governance based on Sharia law. This evolution reflects historical events such as the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Balfour Declaration, which heightened anti-colonial sentiments within the region. As these agreements were seen as emblematic of Western interference in Muslim lands, they galvanized support for Islamist ideologies. The Brotherhood positioned itself as both a political alternative and a cultural renewal movement, adapting its rhetoric to address contemporary grievances while maintaining its foundational goals.

Related terms

Islamism: A political ideology advocating for the implementation of Islamic law in government and society.

Sykes-Picot Agreement: A secret 1916 agreement between Britain and France that divided the Ottoman Empire's territories in the Middle East into spheres of influence.

Balfour Declaration: A 1917 statement by the British government expressing support for the establishment of a 'national home for the Jewish people' in Palestine.