Was Bin Laden Misunderstood Too?

A California State University professor seems to think one of his mentors was. “An Islamist ideologue credited with inspiring al-Qaida founder Osama bin Laden is ‘misunderstood,’ a California State University professor claimed in a speech last week,” John Rossomando reported for The Investigative Project on Terrorism on December 1, 2017. “Imad Bayoun claimed Sayyid Qutb’s writings, such as his manifesto Milestones, were ‘largely misunderstood’ in remarks at the Muslim American Society of Greater Los Angeles’ 20th Annual ‘Agents of Change’ convention last week.”

Actually, the 9-11 Commission seemed to have figured them out. “The 9/11 Commission Report describes Qutb as a major inspiration for bin Laden,” Rossomando writes. “Qutb declared that the Islamic world entered a state of apostasy; that jihad needed to be waged to end this state of affairs; and that apostate rulers should be toppled. He wrote in Milestones that shariah was the only acceptable form of law.”

“His commentary, In the Shade of the Quran, taught that the violent verses in the Muslim holy book take precedent over peaceful verses. In contrast with many Muslim apologists, Qutb believed that a jihad of the sword should be fought to spread Islam throughout the world.”

“Therefore prepare for Jihad and be the lovers of death,” Qutb himself wrote. “Life itself shall come searching after you.” concluded in Milestones.

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