2. Evaluate the impact on Islam of ONE significant person or school of thought.

Sayyid Qutb had a seemingly minimal impact throughout his life, but his teachings and ideology have become of significant importance to the Islamic faith. However his views and thoughts of that are somewhat extreme have lead some followers to form organizations which are involved with radical, extreme and “terrorist” activities.
Qutb’s teachings and commentary of Islamic teachings are seen to hold considerable authority and significance to adherents of Islam. His main and most revered teachings included: the belief in Tawhid (the oneness of God), the concept of Jahiliyya (pagan ignorance), jihad (struggle) and the need to revive Islam.
Through his first book ‘Social Justice of Islam’ Qutb highlighted and upheld the importance of the Islamic idea of Tawhid. He strongly taught that everything was made with and through the Will of Allah, “So all Creation issuing as it does from one absolute, universal and active Will…” Qutb was able to reinforce this fundamental belief of Tawhid to adherents. Through this he wanted to create a society where religion and the sate were one. In this action Islamic religious laws would form the basis of the laws governing the particular society. In the contemporary world we see this in practice through Iran, in which religious laws govern the country. Therefore it appears that Qutb’s underlining focus to create a religious state did in fact become reality.
Qutb’s development of the concept of jahiliyya (pagan ignorance) has had a considerable impact of Islam. Through his most publicly renowned book ‘Milestones’ Qutb offers Islam a solution on how to prevent being removed from the state. He insisted that “it is essential for mankind to have a new leadership”. Through these teachings he attempted to provide answers, however this inspired some of the more