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INTELLECTUAL DISCOURSE
1963).
5. Leonard Binder et. aI., Crise~ and Consequences
in Political Development
(Princeton, N.J.: PrincetonUniversity Press, 1971).
Hasan al-Banna and his Vision
Hasan al-Banna: Vision and Mission, by TharneemUshama. Kuala
Lumpur: A.S. Noordeen, 1995. pp. 176. ISBN 967 9963 93 4.
The need for a book with sympatheticunderstandingand analysis of
the contributions of l:Iasan ai-BanDaand al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun in
English has beenfulfilled by ThameemUshama'swork, which portrays
the vision, mission, personality, and efforts of al-Banna. The book is
iiiformative and provides a detailed review of the history of this great
movement.
The first chapterprovides a brief overview of Islamic revivalism from
18th century onwards, with particular referenceto the efforts of Shah
Wall-Allah, Muhammad ibn CAbdal-Wahhab, JamaluddInaI-AfghanI,
Mu~ammadcAbduhand M. RashidRi~a. This is followed in Chapter2
by a discussionon the emergenceof Islamic organizationsin Egypt as
part of attempts at promoting pan-Islamism.The author discusseshow
al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun tried to maintainpurity in doctrine and ideology
with the aim of founding an Islamic state. Cherishing its multifarious
aims, ambitions, and aspirations, the author regards al-Ikhwan alMuslimun as an examplefor Islamic movementsthroughoutthe world.
This view can, however, be challenged by critics who say that the
movementfailed to establish an Islamic state despite opportunities of
working with successivegovernmentsin Egypt.
Chapters3 and 4 are concernedwith the life and educationof l:Iasan
aI-BanDa.It also analyseshis backgroundand organizationalexperiences
-factors that provided him with extraordinary ability to supervisethe
vast activities of his movement. It is interestingto readthe detailsof the
IsmaCJIlyah
meeting of March 1928 betweenl:Iasanai-BanDaand six of
his followers which later led to the establishmentof al-Ikhwan alMuslimun.
Chapter 5 discussesthe participation of al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun in
Egyptianpolitics. AI-Ikhwan, accordingto the author, rejectedany form
BOOK REVIEW
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of compromisewith the British and stood opposedto several Egyptia~
governments.The author appearsto be sympatheticto this uncompromising attitude of the al-Ikhwan, as well as their inability to utilize to
their maximumopportunitiesfor cooperationwith Egyptiangovernments
at the time. It seemsthat internal differencesin the movement,discussed
in Chapter 6, could also be attributed to the hardline position of its
leaders.The author has chosento discussonly two instancesof discord
inside the movement.Furthermore,he hasmadeno attemptat a critical
analysisof standstakenby opposingsidesand of the possibleideological
and intellectual factors that might have causedthem. Differences in the
postrevolution Ikhwan are not discussedeither.
In Chapter7, a detailed accountis presentedon al-Ikhwan's involvement in Palestinejihad and its campaign for the declaration of jihad
againstthe British occupationof Eygpt. As a result, the movementwas
subjected to various types of harrassment, restriction and eventual
dissolution in 1948. The discussionwould have beengreatly enriched if
the author had analysedal-Ikhwan's views of various types of jihad.
Chapter8 dealswith the martyrdomof Hasanal-Banna,while Chapter
9 considersthe re-establishmentof his movementand its participation in
the Egyptian revolution of 1952. The author claims to have unearthed
some hiddenfacts in his account,but the facts recordedin thesechapters
are not unknown as they have been widely discussedin the writings of
al-Ikhwan.
Chapter 10 contains valuable information about various reforms
advocatedand implementedby this movement. It outlines the Ikhwan's
aim of drafting a constitutionbasedon the Qur'an and Sunnahfor Egypt.
It discussesthe Ikhwan's educational,economic, social, political, and
welfare reforms and contributions. However, the author refrains from
discussingthe spiritual reforms and training, one of the distinguishing
contributions of al-Ikhwan.
Chapter11 looks at the impact of al-Ikhwan on other countries such
as Sudan, Pakistan, India, Iraq, and some Europeancountries. This
chaptersuffers from two weaknesses.First, the discussionis very brief
and hencecould not do justice to the topic underconsideration.Second,
the author claims that all Islamic organizations that fought against
exploitation acceptedthe methodologyand conceptsof al-Ikhwan. This
howevercotradictshis recognitin of the difference in methodologyof alIkhwan and the JamaCat-i-IslamI
of Pakistan. There should have been
specific reference in this chapter to organizations that were directly
influenced by al-Ikhwan so as to gaugethe extent of its impact.
Political
104]
INTELLECTUAL DISCOURSE
The organizationalstructure and membershipof al-Ikhwan are dealt
with in chaptertwelve. Very little is said about usrah organizationand
activities. lawlah training and its organizationalstructureandthe impact
of Sufism on aI-BanDaare also not attendedto.
The book, as rightly described by the author, provides an insight
about the shortcomings that many movementscould face during the
course of their struggle. It suffers from various typographical errors,
especiallyin the references.The bibliographyalsoneedsto be rearranged
according to bibliographic rules.
Ahmad ShehuAbdussalam
Departmentof Arabic Languageand Literature, IIUM
Systemof Islam
Political System of Islam, by Lukrnan Thaib. Kuala Lumpur: Penerbit
Amal, 1994. pp. 184.
Lukman Thaib's book addressesa variety of topics, including political
legitimacy, the Islamic state,the position of non-Muslimsand women in
public offices, political parties, electoralpolitics and nationalism. Thus
this book, is a collection of essayson various aspectsof Islamic political
system.
The first chapterdeals with the legitimacy of state in Islam. Most of
the discussion, however, deals with the migration of the Prophet (SAS)
and his companionsto al-MadInahand the consequentestablishmentof
the first Islamic state there. Curiously absentfrom this discussion, as
from the whole book, is any mention of the Constitution of al-Madlnah.
The second chapteris devotedto the objectives of the Islamic state. It
needsto be emphasizedthat the objectivesof Islamic stateconstitutethe
basis of its legitimacy.
In the two succeedingchapters,the authordiscussesthe legitimacyof
political authority and sovereignty in Islam. He uses theseconceptsto
meanthe "right to rule," but at times they are used.to refer to "those in
authority." This conceptualconfusion is compoundedby the author's
interchangeableuse of "political authority," "political power," and