Sayyid Qutb
1906–1966 · Egyptian · 20th Century
Known for: The philosopher of political Islam whose prison writings inspired both Islamic reform movements and jihadist extremism
Qutb was an Egyptian intellectual whose experience of American materialism (he visited Greeley, Colorado in 1948 and was horrified by church dances) radicalized him toward political Islam. His prison writings, especially Milestones, argued that the modern world exists in jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic ignorance) and Muslims must establish a truly Islamic society through revolutionary action.
He was executed by the Egyptian government in 1966, becoming a martyr figure for Islamist movements worldwide.
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