🌟 Jamaat al-Takfir wa’l-Hijrah: Radical Belief and Controversial Actions in Cairo

Comprehensive Definition and Meaning 🌟

Jamaat al-Takfir wa’l-Hijrah, or the Society of Muslims, is a radical Islamic group that emerged in Cairo. Known for its extreme views and actions, the group made headlines in July 1977 when it abducted and assassinated Shaykh Muhammad Husayn al-Dhahabi, the former Egyptian minister of awqaf (religious endowments) and Azhar affairs. The group’s leader, Shukri Ahmad Mustafa, declared all contemporary societies as un-Islamic, asserting that only members of his group were true Muslims. Departing from their group was treated as apostasy, punishable by death.

Etymology and Background 📜

Etymology

• Jamaat (جماعة): Arabic for “group” or “assembly."
• Takfir (تكفير): The act of declaring a Muslim an apostate.
• Hijrah (هجرة): Emigration or migration, in Islamic context, refers to Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina.

Background

Shukri Ahmad Mustafa, the leader of Jamaat al-Takfir wa’l-Hijrah, believed that the existing systems of Islamic law were not divine but human constructs. He and his followers advocated for a literal interpretation of the Qur’an and rejection of secular societies. Their radical actions were justified through their belief in takfir, denouncing other Muslims as infidels or apostates.

Historical Facts and Dates 📅

• July 1977: Abduction and assassination of Shaykh Muhammad Husayn al-Dhahabi.
• 1978: Execution of Shukri Ahmad Mustafa.

Cultural Differences and Similarities 🌍

Differences

• The group rejects Islamic legal traditions accepted by mainstream Muslims worldwide.
• They reject any form of secular or traditional government, unlike the majority of Muslims who live peacefully within their national frameworks.

Similarities

• The group based its teachings on the Qur’an, similar to other Muslim groups, although their interpretations and applications were extreme.

Synonyms and Antonyms 🔍

Synonyms

• Society of Muslims.
• Islamic Extremists.

Antonyms

• Moderates.
• Mainstream Muslims.
• Traditionalist Muslims.

Related Terms and Definitions 🕌

• Takfir (تكفير): The act of declaring a Muslim an apostate.
• Hijrah (هجرة): Migration or emigration, particularly associated with the Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina.
• Apostasy (ارتداد): Abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief.

Exciting Facts 🔍

1. The group’s radical ideology included the belief that it was a divine duty to cleanse society by identifying and eliminating “non-believers.”
2. Their actions were catastrophic for the Egyptian state and have impacted ideologies of other extremist groups.
3. Shukri Ahmad Mustafa, the leader, was a graduate of Egypt’s highly reputed Agriculture Faculty of Asyut University.

Quotations from Notable Writers 🖋️

1. “Their zeal was fueled not by a lack of understanding, but by an oversimplification of what it meant to live a good Islamic life.” – Dr. Saida Bikri, historian.
2. “In a world fractured by competing ideologies, the greatest pains come not from dogma but from the inflicted orders of misguided vigilance.” – Tarek Ali, political scientist.

References 🗃️

1. Kepel, Gilles. Muslim Extremism in Egypt: The Prophet and Pharaoh. University of California Press, 2003.
2. Sageman, Marc. Understanding Terror Networks. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004.

Suggested Literature and Further Studies 📚

1. Books:

   • Armed Islamist Movements and Insurgency in Egypt 1969-1981 by Zackery Heern.
   • The Far Enemy: Why Jihad Went Global by Fawaz A. Gerges.

2. Articles:

   • “The Radicalization of Sheikh Safar al-Hawali and its Connection to Egypt” by Bennett Clinton.
   • “Struggle in the Name of Islam: History and Ideology in the Arab World” by Mustafa Zuhur.

May your quest for knowledge lead not only to understanding but also to wisdom. The insights from history and belief systems can guide our intrinsic values and social cohesion. The tranquil path is crafted through knowledge and empathy.

— Zayd Hassan