Muhammad Surur bin Nayif Zayn al-'Abidin (Arabic: محمد سرور بن نايف زين العابدين; 1938 – 11 November 2016)[1] was a former member of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood.[2] He is credited with establishing the Salafi Islamist movement known as Sururism (or Sururi), which combines "the organisational methods and political worldview of the Muslim Brotherhood with the theological puritanism of Wahhabism."[3] This movement is noted for advancing a politicized version of Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia. Surur called for non-violent criticism of Muslim rulers but opposed efforts to overthrow regimes in Muslim countries, viewing such actions as fitna (civil strife and chaos).[4] In 1984, he authored the widely read anti-Shia book Wa Ja'a Dawr al-Majus (Arabic: وجاء دور المجوس, lit.'The Era of the Magians Has Come').[5] This book posits the Iranian Revolution as a strategy for Shiite domination of the Middle East.[6] His writings influenced Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.[7]

Muhammad Surur
TitleShaykh, Imam, Allamah
Personal life
Born1938 (1938)
Died2016 (aged 77–78)
Religious life
ReligionIslam
DenominationSunni
CreedAthari
MovementSalafi
Sahwa movement
Muslim leader

Life

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He was born in the Hawran region.[8] In the mid-1960s, while still affiliated with the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, Surur began to express criticism of the group, such as its acceptance of members from the Sufi Brotherhood.[1] These disagreements led to his relocation to Saudi Arabia in 1965.[9] After being expelled from Saudi Arabia in 1974 on charges of subversive activity[10] he moved to Kuwait. There, he established the Dar al-Arqam publishing house.[11] In 1984, Suror settled in the United Kingdom, where he established the Center for Islamic Studies.[12] His final relocation was to Jordan in 2004.[13]

Influence

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Surur admired Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al ash-Sheikh and was himself initially admired by Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi—who later considered him to be too lenient towards the Muslim rulers.[14] Surur has also influenced Salman al-Ouda.[15]

After the death of Muhammad Surur in Doha, Abdulrazzaq al-Mahdi sent condolences and commented on his impact.

Works

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  • Wa Ja'a Dawr al-Majus (The Era of the Magians Has Come)
  • Al-salafiyya bayna al-wula wal-ghula (Salafism between the Rulers and the Extremists)[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Haykel, Bernard; Hegghammer, Thomas; Lacroix, Stéphane, eds. (31 Jan 2015). Saudi Arabia in Transition: Insights on Social, Political, Economic and Religious Change. Cambridge University Press. p. 171. ISBN 9781316194195.
  2. ^ Hassan, Hassan (November 13, 2016). "Muhammad Surur and the normalisation of extremism". The Nation.
  3. ^ Moghadam, Assaf; Fishman, Brian, eds. (10 May 2011). Fault Lines in Global Jihad: Organizational, Strategic, and Ideological Fissures. Taylor & Francis. p. 187. ISBN 9781136710582.
  4. ^ Joas Wagemakers (11 Jun 2012). A Quietist Jihadi: The Ideology and Influence of Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi. Cambridge University Press. pp. 34, 77. ISBN 9781139510899.
  5. ^ Moghadam, Assaf; Fishman, Brian, eds. (10 May 2011). Fault Lines in Global Jihad: Organizational, Strategic, and Ideological Fissures. Taylor & Francis. pp. 187–8. ISBN 9781136710582.
  6. ^ Khatib, Lina; Lust, Ellen, eds. (16 Apr 2014). Taking to the Streets: The Transformation of Arab Activism (illustrated, reprint ed.). JHU Press. p. 318. ISBN 9781421413112.
  7. ^ Jerrold D. Green; Frederic M. Wehrey; Charles Wolf (2009). Understanding Iran. Rand Corporation. p. 121. ISBN 9780833045584.
  8. ^ Stephane Lacroix; George Holoch (2011). Awakening Islam (illustrated ed.). Harvard University Press. p. 69. ISBN 9780674049642.
  9. ^ John Calvert (22 Nov 2009). Sayyid Qutb and the Origins of Radical Islamism. Oxford University Press. p. 276. ISBN 9780199326877.
  10. ^ Stephane Lacroix; George Holoch (2011). Awakening Islam (illustrated ed.). Harvard University Press. p. 70. ISBN 9780674049642.
  11. ^ Stephane Lacroix; George Holoch (2011). Awakening Islam (illustrated ed.). Harvard University Press. p. 293. ISBN 9780674049642.
  12. ^ Stephane Lacroix; George Holoch (2011). Awakening Islam (illustrated ed.). Harvard University Press. p. 154. ISBN 9780674049642.
  13. ^ Haykel, Bernard; Hegghammer, Thomas; Lacroix, Stéphane, eds. (31 Jan 2015). Saudi Arabia in Transition: Insights on Social, Political, Economic and Religious Change. Cambridge University Press. pp. 171–2. ISBN 9781316194195.
  14. ^ Joas Wagemakers (11 Jun 2012). A Quietist Jihadi: The Ideology and Influence of Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi. Cambridge University Press. pp. 77, 239. ISBN 9781139510899.
  15. ^ Robert G. Rabil (26 Sep 2014). Salafism in Lebanon: From Apoliticism to Transnational Jihadism. Georgetown University Press. p. 55. ISBN 9781626161177.
  16. ^ Stephane Lacroix; George Holoch (2011). Awakening Islam (illustrated ed.). Harvard University Press. p. 331. ISBN 9780674049642.
  • Stephane Lacroix; George Holoch (2011). Awakening Islam (illustrated ed.). Harvard University Press. p. 315. ISBN 9780674049642.
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