From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Hassan al Banna (October 1906 - February 12, 1949) was an Egyptian Islamist best known for founding the Muslim Brotherhood.
He was born to a father who was a graduate of the al-Azhar Theological Seminary, a top Muslim seminary.
He was admitted into Cairo University at the age of 16, because of his wealth in knowledge. Banna memorized the entire Qur'an at a young age.
He wrote the book Letter to a Muslim Student describing the fundamentals of the new Muslim Brotherhood.
On the 12th of February 1949, Hassan al-Banna was shot dead by an assassin in Cairo. It is not known who killed him, or why, though there are numerous theories.
His last daughter was born on the day he was killed, and her mother named her "Isteshhad", Arabic for "martyrdom".
