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  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 1 st 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