hearts are Muslim, as long as we say, “there is no god but Allah”. It’s enough.’
‘Without practising the formula “there is no god but Allah” you will find it will be held as an argument against you, not for you, in front of Allah.’
‘People follow the religion of their Kings.’
‘May He raise them, on the Day of Judgement, with their Kings!’
‘I am trying to reach an agreement with you.’
‘Throughout history, never have the apostles’ messages met with falsehood. For the people who believed in it submitted to Allah, saying: Our Lord! In You do we trust, and to You do we turn in repentance: to You is our final goal. Our Lord! Make us not a test nor a trial for the unbelievers, but forgive us, our Lord! For You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise.’ 10
He stood up to leave, saying angrily: ‘I will not be coming to see you again. However, if you want to contact me, here is my phone number.’
‘Thank you, I do not want it.’
Towards the end of July 1965, I was informed that several Ikhwan members had been arrested.
Notes and References
1. Jamal ‘Abd al-Nasir (subsequently Nasir) (1918-1970), Egyptian President. Champion of Arab Nationalism and one of the most influential Arab leaders of modern times.
2. Hajjah (masc. Haj) is a title given to the person who has performed Hajj, but is also used as a title of respect, especially for elders.
3. The Muslim Brotherhood (al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun) (subsequently Ikhwan), was one of the largest and most organized Islamic revivalist movements in the Islamic world. Founded by Hasan al-Banna (1906-1949), in 1928, the Ikhwan played a crucial role in shaping the modern political history of Egypt and some other Arab countries.
4. In 1952 a military coup changed Egypt from a monarchy into a Republic.
5. Taqiyyah: (from the root waqa = to safeguard, self-protection and hence dissimulation (in order to protect oneself)). The principle of concealment of one’s religious beliefs in order to avoid prosecution or imminent harm. Cf. The Concise Encyclopaedia of Islam, Cyril Glace.
6. ‘Azimah (plu. ‘Aza’im) lit. determination, resolution, fixed purpose; in Islam an ordinance as interpreted strictly. Correlative to it is rukhsah (plu. rukhas) exemption given by the lawgiver for certain cases of prevention or complete dispensation from observance of the law. Cf. The Encyclopaedia of Islam, 1st edition.
7. This is, of course, an allusion to Nasir’s Soviet-Socialist orientation. In fact, Nasir was, sometimes, more Soviet than the Soviets themselves. This is why the name Jamalov, following the pattern of most Russian names, befitted him. As for the Jamalovs, they are all those who follow in Nasir’s footsteps.
8. Fussilat: 1.
9. Egypt’s largest-selling, State controlled newspaper.
10. Al-Mumtahanah: 4 and 5.
My relationship with the Ikhwan group was not as recent as some would have it. For it went back to 1937. I met with Imam Shahid Hasan al-Banna, for the first time, in those remote blessed days of 1937, six months after I formed the Muslim Ladies Group. The meeting took place in the Ikhwan’s headquarters, then in al-‘Atabah, after I delivered a lecture to the group’s ladies’ branch.
Hasan al-Banna was in the process of forming a sisters’ branch in the Ikhwan. After reminding me of the necessity of uniting all Muslims and bringing them together, he invited me to preside over the Muslim sisters. This meant the merging of my new-born Muslim Ladies Group, something I was intensely proud of, with the Ikhwan. I promised to discuss al-Banna’s suggestion with our general assembly but said I could not give a guarantee about the result. As it happened, our general assembly rejected the proposal but recommended close co-operation between the two groups.
Thereafter, I met with al-Banna repeatedly and even though each of us maintained our own opinions, our Islamic relationship in no way suffered. At the last meeting which took place between us in the Muslim Ladies Headquarters, I sought to appease him by promising to make the Muslim Ladies Group one of the Ikhwan’s foundation stones, but on condition that we retained our name and independence for the benefit of da’wah. Unable to compromise, al-Banna insisted on a complete merger.
Events moved fast after that, and soon we were dealing with the incidents of 1948.1 A decree was issued to dissolve the Ikhwan group, close down all its branches and confiscate its belongings. Before long, thousands of its members were in jail. The Muslim Sisters (the Ikhwan’s ladies’ branch) had been performing activities they are to be thanked for. One of these sisters was Mrs. Tahiah al-Jubaili, my brother’s wife and cousin, and it was from her that I learned many details. It was then, that I found myself, for the first time, eager to support all of al-Banna’s opinions and understood his insistence on completely merging the Muslim Ladies Group into the Ikhwan. In my office, the same office where my last meeting with al-Banna had taken place, the morning after the dissolution of the Ikhwan, I could not help putting my head in my hands and crying bitterly. I believed that al-Banna was right. He was the Imam that all Muslims must pledge allegiance to, in order that they struggle for the return of Muslims to their position of responsibility and true existence, and can implement Allah’s commands. I felt that al-Banna was stronger than me and franker in disseminating and announcing the truth. His boldness and courage are two characteristics which all Muslims must have. I asked my secretary to contact Brother ‘Abd al-Hafiz al-Saifi whom I wanted to convey a verbal message to al-Banna, reminding him of my pledge to him at our last meeting. When al-Saifi returned with al-Banna’s greetings and prayers, I requested my brother Muhammad al-Ghazali al-Jubaili to take, or ask his wife to take, a note to al-Banna. That short note read:
Sayyidi2 Imam Hasan al-Banna,
Zainab al-Ghazali presents herself today devoid of everything except her servitude to Allah and her enslavement in the call to Him. You are today the only person who can do to this Ummah something for the Call to Allah in a way that pleases Him.
Waiting for your instructions and orders.
Shortly afterwards, my brother informed me that a brief appointment in the Muslim Youth3 (al-Shubban al-Muslimun) Headquarters between myself and al-Banna had been arranged. We were to make out that this meeting took place purely by coincidence. In any case, I was not short of excuses to visit the establishment, for I was about to deliver a lecture there. As arranged, al-Banna and I bumped into each other whilst using the stairs at the Headquarters. Candidly, and without hesitation, I volunteered: ‘I pledge allegiance to you for the establishment of the Islamic State. The least I can give for this, is shedding my blood and merging the Muslim Ladies Group with the Ikhwan.’
‘I accept the pledge, but the Muslim Ladies Group remains as it is.’
We left each other with an agreement that further contact would be made via my brother’s
