Milestones

Perhaps what makes "Milestones" most interesting is that is was not written by an Islamic scholar. This may be lost on readers in the west, but the fact that this work has been so widely published and read in both the English and non English speaking world is indeed a "milestone." Traditionally, treatises of this sort would have been filtered, molded, peer reviewed, critiqued and approved by a wide body of Islamic scholars (ulama) before ever seeing the light of day. "Milestones" in this sense is almost like the first Muslim blog; a curious traveler, an amateur philosopher and a history buff recording life as he lives it. We are given a unique glimpse into the mind of someone who would have fit very neatly into the socio-economic "middle" of Egypt (or really any Muslim country) during that time. For that reason Milestones was (and is) an easily digestible work for laypeople, both Muslim and non Muslim alike. About the work itself....what is most often talked about regarding Sayyid Qutb's Milestones is the repugnant, personalized descriptions of American culture. While Sayyid expressed awe for American scientific achievements and the American standard of living, he found the materialism, sexism and amorality of the time simply deplorable. What should be kept in mind is that Sayyid Qutb was not writing for an American audience (or even a western one) and culturally was coming from a place where modesty of dress, modesty of action and modesty of thought and expression were the bedrock of Islamic society. As Americans we may chuckle at Sayyid Qutb's observations of a time we now consider romantic and idyllic, but what is disturbing is Qutb's "pulling back" of the veil of American society. Indeed, upon closer inspection we see a world awash in materialism, rampant racism, impotent religious institutions, xenophobia, sexism, consumerism and a blinding post-war optimism simply obliterating "modesty" in all of its manifestations. And this, of course, is the foundation of Sayyid Qutb's fear - that this mechanized, greedy, pornographic, corporate-sponsored machine that had laid waste to traditional America would soon gobble up his own world. And, in a sense, it did. Ironically, most of what Sayyid Qutb hypothesized has come to fruition. The ramifications of this are open to interpretation.

Milestones has received more attention in the wake of 9.11, as many point to Qutb's works and ideas as the birth of modern Islamist terrorism.I read this book a year ago, but the general theme is still with me. And with this in mind, I admit confusion. The tone is not nearly as violent as it has been portrayed in some quarters. I'd say Milestones is more revolutionary in thought, rather than violence. For Qutb, Islam is a beautiful thing that has been hijacked from within, and misunderstood from the outside. And in some ways, I can't help but think he's right.While one can perceive his ideas a certain way that will lead to violent actions, there is still positivity to be taken from this tome. As you read it, you almost get caught up in the idea of a nationless world, where competition and hierarchy gives way to true brotherhood. Unfortunately, that brotherhood for Qutb comes from Islam. The underlying force of most religions seems to be to conquer the world, and this is a problem.Yet, Qutb strikes me as one who had more love than hate in his heart. Milestones captures this. While I may disagree with his take on his religion, or Islam in general, I can understand his feeling that Islam has become something of a tool to be used against mankind. And while the tone can be abrasive at times, I don't think this is a manifesto for terrorists, as Qutb is as concerned with spreading knowledge as he is with picking up a sword.In today's world, Milestones is an important document to understanding the essence of Islam. True devotees of this religion live in a world that us Westerners can't fully relate to. And I don't mean geographically so much as I mean culturally. We are so used to heirarchy and competition. We are used to bosses and leaders and kings and queens and bishops and popes and generals that is almost impossible to imagine a world where we are all indeed truly equal before the eyes of a god in the sky. Even for those who are not "religious," much can be gleamed from those whose path has included faith in religion. While Qutb's vision is ultimately unrealistic and perhaps a bit dangerous, it is nonetheless fascinating and potentially inspiring in a way that you wouldn't think of.

Actually, the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood was Hassan al-Banna, in 1928. Sayyid Qutb was one of the Brotherhood's most widely known thinkers in the 50's and 60's, but he was not the founder.

Sayyid Qutb is easily one of the major architects and "strategists" of contemporary Islamic revival. Along with Maulana Maududi, the founder of Jamaat-e-Islami, the revivalist movement in South Asia, and Imam Khomeini, the leader of Iran's Islamic revolution, he gave shape to the ideas and the worldview that has mobilized and motivated millions of Muslims from Malaysia to Michigan to strive to reintroduce Islamic practices in their lives and alter social and political institutions so that they reflect Islamic principles. Milestones was written to educate and motivate the potential vanguard of the re-Islamization movement.Qutb, like most contemporary mujaddids, Islamic revivalists, was distressed with the growing distance between Islamic values, institutions and practices and the emerging postcolonial Muslim societies, specially in his native Egypt. In Milestones, he sought to answer some of the fundamental questions such as why Islam needs to be revived? why no other way of life is adequate? What is the true essence of an Islamic identity and an Islamic existence (he uses the term "concept" to signify these two elements)? How was Islam established by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his companions? Can the same method, which was undoubtedly divine in its conception be replicated again? Qutb is particularly concerned with this issue of "Islamic methodology". He believes that Islamic values and the manner in which they are to be realized (read as were realized by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his glorious companions) both together constitute the faith of Islam.Relying entirely on the Quran, Qutb uses the concepts of jahiliyya, Islamic concept, Islamic methodology, jihad and Allah's sovereignty, to dilineate the strategy by which Muslims would:1. realize the true significance and implications of La-ilaha-illallah, having faith in the exclusive unity of Allah (tawhid).2. understand the imperfections, injustices and moral poverty of jahiliyya.3. empower themselves by realising the meaning of ashhadu-anna-muhammadur-rasoolullah (bearing witness that Muhammad is Allah's messenger) -- internalizing his method of dawah and submitting to the will and laws of Allah.4. through this Islamic methodology, as articulated in the Quran and manifested in the practices of Prophet Muhammad, which does not separate theory from practice, and discourse from action, establish an Islamic order. The Islamic order, which is Allah's most significant gift to the entire humanity.5. The most remarkable aspect of Qutb's book is his insistance on an approach in "stages" and the repeated assertion that the need for implementing Islamic law would not arise until every member of the community had completely submitted to the sovereignty of Allah and by that agreed to live under Allah's laws. Laws would then be framed merely to serve the needs of this "living community of Islam". A far cry from the perception that a handful of Islamists are out to impose an essentialized shariah on all M

Best known as the founder of the Islamic Brotherhood, Syed Qutb lived and died the life of a martyr. Opposition to his radical views made him a political outcast in mainstream Egyptian politics, but on the grassroot level, he was widely embraced by the people. His later years were spent in solitary confinemet--a political prisoner. And it was during those days, that he wrote his most famous works. Milestones presents his political and religious ideology. It is a must read for anyone wishing to understand Islamic politics, and the tumultuous Mid-Eastern political era. I strongly recommend another of his books, :In the shade of the Quran"