A Study of Mohammad Qutb's Jaheliyah; Using Shia, Sunni, and Rational Sources

In the second half of the twentieth century, with the increasing rivalary between Egyption and Saudi Arabia, a large amount of the members of Egyptian Ikhwan-Al-Moslemin immigrated to Saudi Arabia and mixed the Ikhwani thoughts with Wahhabism and spread it. Mohammad Qutb was the most important thinker of that movement. The main Qutbs’ thoughts were political thoughts and idea about the concept of Jaheliyah (ignorance).In Qutb’s view, Jaheliyah is a political concept and means ruling in accordance with laws other than Sharia (God’s path). He said the only way to end this Jaheliah is to establish the Islamic government.We show in this paper that the government hasthe highest position in Qutb's view as it can be accounted as one of the Islams’ principals besides monotheism.The Shia and Sunni sources often did not accept this view, despite Qutb says the goal of this government is to free people from Jaheliyah. In the Qutb's view the most important tool of Islamic government is Sharia.