Sayyid Qutb

Sayyid Qutb (1324–1386 AH / 1906–1966 CE) was an Egyptian literary critic who became an Islamic thinker and leading ideologue of the Muslim Brotherhood. His tafsir Fi Zilal al-Quran (In the Shade of the Quran) is widely read for its literary and spiritual reflections. However, his later works, particularly Ma'alim fi al-Tariq (Milestones), have been criticized by major Islamic scholars for promoting ideas about takfir (declaring Muslims apostates) and jihad against Muslim governments that many scholars consider to be outside mainstream Sunni thought. His works require careful reading with awareness of the scholarly critiques. He was executed by the Egyptian government in 1966.