Draft:Hassan al-Ashmawi
Hassan al-Ashmawi was one of the prominent legal and political figures in Egypt and a former lawyer for the Muslim Brotherhood group. He played key roles during the 1952 Revolution and is known as one of the main advisors and coordinators between the Muslim Brotherhood and the Free Officers.
Biography
Hassan Muhammad al-Ashmawi was born in 1921 AD in the city of Minya in Upper Egypt. He completed his education in elementary and secondary schools, then went to the Faculty of Law and graduated in 1942 AD. He worked in the judiciary and later turned to law practice in the late 1950s. Al-Ashmawi joined the Muslim Brotherhood group in 1944 AD and quickly became one of its key members.
Activities
Hassan al-Ashmawi is known as the main coordinator between the Muslim Brotherhood and the Free Officers during the Battle of Suez. He was trusted by the head of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood current, Hassan al-Hudaybi, due to his courage and foresight, and stood by him during the hardest moments of political conflicts.
Relation with Muhammad Naguib
In December 1953 AD, the Muslim Brotherhood contacted Muhammad Naguib and demanded the establishment of a civil government. Al-Ashmawi played a role as the Brotherhood's representative in these negotiations and tried to convey the Brotherhood's views to Muhammad Naguib.
Dissolution of the Muslim Brotherhood Group
In 1954 AD, the Revolutionary Leadership Council decided to dissolve the Muslim Brotherhood group, and al-Ashmawi evaded arrest and trial for three years. He eventually managed to seek asylum in Saudi Arabia and then went to Switzerland and subsequently to Kuwait.
Thoughts
Religious Government
Hassan al-Ashmawi emphasizes in his book The Arab Individual and the Problem of Governance that the Islamic movement is not seeking to establish a religious government. He says that Islamic thinkers do not want to interpret the concept of "Islamic government" and that Islam possesses the element of "religion and state" as meaning the establishment of a religious government. He refers to historical experiences of religious governments and says:
"The earth has experienced religious government many times; including during the time of the priests and rabbis of Jews who, in the name of God, permitted the killing of Zechariah and John and ruled to execute Christ. Also during the time of the Church and kings (Middle Ages) they claimed the right of divine government for themselves with God's permission and name and established inquisition trials and burning of saints and religious scholars." He also refers to the problems that Muslims faced in their history with those who considered themselves Caliph and representative of God, and says: "We do not want this, and no individual should rule who is an intermediary between heaven and earth."
Sovereignty
Hassan al-Ashmawi addresses the concept of "Sovereignty" in his book The Arab Individual and the Problem of Governance and asks: "Can religion realize God's sovereignty on earth?" He refers to natural laws and in rejection of religious government and sovereignty says: "Did God want governance to be in a specific form on earth?" and states confidently: "I say this and anyone who says otherwise must provide evidence".
He continues that God's sovereignty on earth means the supremacy of His laws, which can exist without a religious government or even without government altogether. He warns that God's sovereignty meaning a religious government _ is autocratic that may be just or oppress and there be no objection to it, or lead to a state where every group considers itself the guardian of God's sovereignty and thus society becomes scattered and engaged in conflict.
Works
Among his works, the following can be mentioned:
- Memoirs of a Fugitive: This book deals with Hassan al-Ashmawi's personal experiences during the period of fleeing from the government and the political and social challenges of that time.
- The Arab Individual and the Problem of Governance: In this work, al-Ashmawi examines sovereignty issues and the relationship of the individual with government in Arab and Islamic societies and offers critiques on the concept of religious sovereignty.
- History of the Islamic Movement in Egypt: This book deals with the history and evolution of the Islamic movement in Egypt, from the beginning to contemporary times, and its effects on society and politics.
Death
Finally, Hassan al-Ashmawi died on Wednesday, 2 February 1972 AD, in Kuwait and was buried in Al-Sulaibikhat Cemetery. His funeral ceremony was held with the presence of a large number of Kuwaiti residents.
See Also
References
- "Hassan al-Ashmawi" and the Rejection of the Concept of Sovereignty and Religious Government, Islamist Movements Portal (in Arabic), Publication date: 2 February 2025 AD, Access date: 31 May 2025.