Uريد an Atahaddath ila al-Ikhwan
- Author died
- 1420 AH
- Editions
- Uريد an Atahaddath ila al-Ikhwan
Urīd an Ataḥaddath ilā al-Ikhwān ("I Wish to Speak to the Brethren") is an advisory treatise by the Indian Islamic scholar Abu al-Hasan al-Nadwi (d. 1420 AH / 1999 CE), addressed to members of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt .
Background and Composition
The treatise was completed in Cairo on 9 Jumada al-Ukhra 1370 AH (March 1951 CE) while al-Nadwi was residing in Egypt . It was published with an introduction by Egyptian scholar Muhammad al-Ghazali, who noted that al-Nadwi visited the group while it was confronting a military order dissolving its organization, offering guidance on maintaining Islamic ethics and steadfastness in da'wah . In the treatise, al-Nadwi expresses his sorrow at having been unable to meet the founder and General Guide of the movement, Hasan al-Banna, due to delays in his travel prior to al-Banna's assassination, presenting the work as an open address to his surviving companions .
Themes and Contents
Al-Nadwi opens by analyzing the condition of the contemporary Islamic world, describing it as caught in tension between its innate religious identity and the pressures of Westernization, materialist ideologies, and governing elites estranged from Islamic principles . He identifies the Arab world as particularly vulnerable due to historical factors, foreign colonialism, and the decline of traditional religious leadership .
He reviews what he identifies as key distinctions of the Muslim Brotherhood's movement:
- The leadership of Hasan al-Banna, characterized by a comprehensive understanding of Islam, vigorous activity, eloquence, and personal magnetism .
- A broad social base uniting scholars, professionals, merchants, workers, and students within modern organizational and media structures .
- The cultivation of discipline and resolve, which was demonstrated during the 1948 war in Palestine and through endurance during trials and imprisonment .
- Normalizing public adherence to Islamic practices and raising demands for Islamic governance across wider society .
Al-Nadwi interprets the crisis and disbanding of the group as a providential return to the foundational stage of da'wah, intended to allow its members to deepen their spiritual grounding, reassess strategies, and ensure their methodology aligns strictly with prophetic precedents .
Principles of Prophetic Reform
The core of the work outlines distinctive qualities derived from the prophetic model of reform, distinguishing it from conventional political and social movements :
- Supplication and Reliance on God: Continuous prayer and total dependence upon divine aid rather than mere material preparation .
- Purity of Purpose and Political Power as a Byproduct: Emphasizing that political authority must never be the ultimate goal or primary ambition of the movement; rather, governance is a consequential trust granted by God to establish justice and worship .
- Patience in Foundational Stages: Refraining from premature political acceleration before the public and cadres are thoroughly nurtured and tested, drawing on the model of the Rashidun Caliphate .
- Complete Dedication: Committing time, energy, and resources fully to the cause of faith .
- Spiritual Devotion: Cultivating inner worship, humility, and night prayers, following the practice of the Prophet ﷺ and early companions .
- Strict Religious Observance: Upholding higher standards of piety (ʿazīmah) rather than relying on legal dispensations (rukhaṣ) .
- Nurturing a New Generation: Cultivating individuals through comprehensive educational programs, fresh presentations of Islamic thought, historiography, and literature to build a resilient intellectual and moral community .
The treatise concludes by invoking the historical example of Abu Bakr and the early Muslims following the death of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, urging the movement's adherents to maintain steadfastness and unity in the face of political tribulation .
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