Introduction and Chapter 1

Prologue St. Patrick's Day 1996

Daniel Coleman goes to CIA “station”

Station devoted to tracking Osama bin Laden○ 1993○ Saudi Prince○ Supported radical cell of Islamists○ Unclear whether he was a “real”

threat August 1996

Bin Laden declared war on America○ Angry over U.S. Troops in Saudi

Arabia○ Most people in America didn’t

know Osama bin Laden○ Criminal file opened

Jamal al-Fadl November 1996 Coleman and CIA interview him Says he worked for bin Laden Stole $100,000 Opened up about al-Qaeda

○ No one had heard of it○ No one in US government cared○ Coleman carried on investigation

Chapter 1: The Martyr Sayyid Qutb

November 1948 Coming to America for

education From Egypt Devout Muslim Forced out of Egypt for

criticizing the monarchy, King Farouk

Minister of Education Shocked at Egypt’s support of

Israel after WWII Shocked by America’s

immorality Believed Islam offered the

best formula for a godly and just society

America in 1948 All-time economic high Post-war boom Melting-pot Focused on communism

Washington 1949

Qutb gets a teaching position in Washington state

Still scandalized by Americans

February- Hasan al-Banna is assasinated○ Head of Muslim Brothers○ Shocking for Qutb○ Similar views of the uses of

Islam○ Qutn now joined the

Muslim Brothers Turning point for both

organization and Qutb

Colorado Summer 1949

○ Enjoyable experience○ Still undercurrents existed

Drinking Racism

○ December 1949 “estrangement” Withdrew from classes

California Spent 8 months Saw a “spiritual wasteland”

Return to Egypt- 1950 Not liberalized

Became more radical Published his “impressions” New anger about race

○ White man in America Wanted to show that Islam

and Modernity were not compatible

Egypt In his absence, become more

radical Egyptian government not

popular after failure of 1948 war

British presence still there Muslim Brothers

“only” organization that acted for the people

“countersociety” Resisted British occupation Dissolved by government in

1948 but over 1 million members (18% of population)

Became more violent

Revolution July 1952

Miltary junta emerged led by Gamal Abdul Nasser

Ousted King Farouk Seized government 1st time in 2500 years

Egyptian government ruled by Egyptians

Qutb Took part in Revolution Soon a rift emerged

between goals of Nasser and Qutb

Prison Nasser had Qutb thrown in

prison in 1954○ Only served three months

Became editor of magazine○ Spoke out against

government and relationship with Britain

October 26, 1954 Qutb formed alliance with

Egyptian communists Assaniation attempt Nasser had new popularity

and support Qutb thrown in prison again

Becoming the Martyr Suffering

Not sure about reality of story Believed to have been starved,

beaten Senteced to life in Prison, but

reduced to 15 years May 1955

Moved to Prison hospital for next 10 years

Wrote In the Shade of the Quran Came to conclusion:

○ Takfir: excommunication○ Bloodshed was justified

Wrote Milestones From letters to friends and family Published in 1964 Doctrine:

○ World two camps: Islam and jahiliyya (the period of ignorance and barbarity before Islam)

○ Only redemption was to reject rationalism and Western values

○ Called for Islamic Revival 1964

President of Iraq argued for Qutb parole from prison

Stayed in Egypt Resumed anti-government actions Arrested again six months later Trial in 1966 Was executed August 29, 1966 Became a martyr