Hasan al-Banna

Hasan al-Banna (1906 ? 1949) was an Egyptian political reformer, best known for establishing the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist organisation which today has millions of members and spans the Arab world. Through his ardent struggle to revitalise Islamic values amid increasing Westernisation, al-Banna promoted Islamic charity and personal piety throughout Egypt, becoming a powerful political force until his mysterious assassination. In this well written and impartial biography, Krämer gives a detailed account of al-Banna's life and work.

Introduction1 FAMILY BACKGROUND, EDUCATION AND EARLY CAREER Rural Piety Early Education Encountering Sufism At Dar al-'Ulum The Impact of the Capital2 THE SOCIETY OF THE MUSLIM BROTHERS: 1928?38 Planting the Seed in Isma'iliyya Contestation and Suspicion The Move to Cairo Building a Base Recruitment and Activities 3 ENTERING THE POLITICAL STAGE: 1938?49 Looking Beyond Egypt Going Political at Home Preparing for Jihad: Rovers and Battalions Patrons without Clients? The Muslim Brothers, the Palace and Party Politics The Second World War and its Aftermath Post-War Growth and Expansion The Special Apparatus Breakdown: 1948?9 4 HASAN AL-BANNA: THE PIVOT OF HIS UNIVERSE Between Shaykh and Efendi: a Social Profile Islam Applied: an Intellectual Profile What Went Wrong? The Means of Change On Unity and Community Islam as a System A Moral Order, or Creating New Islamic Man The Virtuous City A Moral Economy A Charismatic Community? Concluding Remarks Endnotes Bibliography Index