Ab. Rahman, Asyraf (2006) The nature and practices of social justice in the view of Sayyid Qutb. Jurnal Pembangunan Sosial, 9. pp. 151-164. ISSN 1394-6528

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Abstract

This paper discusses the nature of social justice as enunciated by Sayyid Qutb, an Egyptian prominent scholar in the 1960s. Failure of the political system, economic disparity, coupled with the British interference in many aspects of Egyptian socio-political life led to the so called ‘Egyptian disillusionment’ with the existing problems facing their country. Qutb’s notion of social justice is all embracing; spiritual and material life, and is not merely limited to economic justice. Together with other Egyptian intellectuals like Najib Mahfuz, Muhammad al-Ghazali, and Imad al-Din Abd al-Hamid, Sayyid Qutb managed to propose some alternative solutions in the form of writings including that of books and journal articles. Some major issues discussed in Sayyid Qutb’s works:’al-Adalah al-Ijtimaiiyah fil Islam, Ma’rakat al-Islam wal Ra’samaliyyah and his article al-Fikr al-Jadid, will then be analyzed as to see their importance in articulating some social solutions in a practical and realistic manner, in true accord both with the spirit of Islam and the contemporary human situation.graduation, he became a teacher and inspector for the Ministry of Education, to which he devoted himself for nearly eighteen years until he resigned on 18 October 1952 (Hamudah, 1990). Qutb’s writings can be divided into literature, education, and socio-economic and religio-political thought. His works on literature were written mainly in the 1930s to 1940s, and include his early major works, Muhimmat al-Shair fi’l-Hayah (Significance of the Poet in Life) (1932) and several others such as al-Shati’ al-Majhul (The Unknown Beach) (1934), and al-Taswir al-Fanni fi’l-Qur’an (Artistic Imagery in the Qur’an) (1945). Qutb’s works on education include’al-Qisas∑ al-Dini (Religious Stories), and al-Jadid fi’l-Lughat al- c Arabiyya (A Novelty in Arabic Language).Qutb’s writings on socio-economic and religio-political topics began after World War II, and his first Islamic work, al-c Adalah al-Ijtimac iyyah fi’l-Islam (SocialJustice in Islam), was published in 1948. This wasfollowed by Mac rakat al-Islam wa’l-Ra’smaliyya (Islam’s Battle with Capitalism) and al-Salam al- c Alami wa’l-Islam (Islam and Universal Peace) in 1951. These works focus mainly on Islam as the solution to the problems facing society such as social injustice, corruption and feudalism. During his period in prison between 1954 and 1964, Qutb was able to complete the writing of Fi Zilal al-Qur’an (In the Shade of the Qur’an) together with other Islamic books: Hadha al-Din (This Religion of Islam) (1955), al-Mustaqbal li Hadha al-Din (The Future Belongs to This Religion) (1956) and Khasa’is∑ al-Ta-awwur al-Islami wa Muqawwamatuh (The Characteristics and Components of the Islamic Concept) (1960).Among all his scholarly works, Fi Zilal al-Quran became the most widely circulated. In 1964, his most controversial work Mac alim fi’l-Tariq was published. This book became one of the most important factorsthat led to Qutb’s execution two years later, because its content was said to have exhorted people to act against the current government of Egypt. Mac alim fi’l-Tariq, which was used by the regime asthe main item of evidence in his 1966 trial for conspiracy to overthrow the regime. On 29 August 1966, Qutb was executed along with two other members of the Ikhwan, c Abd al-Fattah Ismac il and Muhammad Yusuf Hawwash. Their execution sent the Ikhwan underground for several years (Abu Rabic , 1984). Qutb’s commitment to Islam and social justice emerged as a result ofseveral factors; the Quran itself, and the surrounding environment that shaping his socio-political thought towardsIslam. The Qur’an seemsto be the single factor that led to Qutb’s change of direction from literary works to the study of Islam as a way of life. Besides, the social and political situation in Egypt during the 1940s, especially after World War II, had also contributed towards hisreligious realism. The country slipped into a period of increasing violence, and anarchy Much has been said on the social issuesrelated to the nature of justice in human society. Some writersfor instance, even went further by highlighting discussions on rights and role of women in society, and how theirsocial positions are treated negatively and to some extents are projected in the literature as a thoroughly sentimental person, rarely pious and more often tempting others to sin.This paper therefore sheds some lights on the nature of social justice as enunciated by Sayyid Qutb, an Egyptian prominentscholar in the 1960s. Failure of the politicalsystem, economic disparity, coupled with the British interference in many aspects of Egyptian socio-political life led to the so called ‘Egyptian disillusionment’with the existing problems facing their country. Together with other Egyptian intellectuals like Najib Mahfuz, Muhammad al-Ghazali, and Imad al-Din Abd al-Hamid, Sayyid Qutb managed to propose some alternative solutions in the form of writings including that of books and journal articles. Some major issues discussed in Sayyid Qutb’s works:’al-Adalah al-Ijtimaiiyah fil Islam, Ma’rakat al-Islam wal Ra’samaliyyah and his article al-Fikr al-Jadid, will then be analyzed as to see their importance in articulating some social solutions in a practical and realistic manner, in true accord both with the spirit of Islam and the contemporary human situation.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences >
Divisions:	School of Applied Psychology, Social Work & Policy
Depositing User:	Mrs. Norazmilah Yaakub
Date Deposited:	28 Sep 2020 01:20
Last Modified:	04 Nov 2020 04:14
URI:	https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/27535

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