Orphan Scandal Christian Missionaries And The Rise Of The Muslim Brotherhood, The
Book Description
A single act of defiance by a teenage Muslim orphan in 1933 Egypt set in motion a chain of events that would reshape the religious and political landscape of the Middle East for generations to come. When fifteen-year-old Turkiyya Hasan refused to stand for her Christian missionary teachers at a Port Said school, the resulting confrontation exposed deep tensions between foreign missions and Egyptian society.
Beth Baron reveals how this seemingly small incident became the catalyst for a nationwide movement that would ultimately contribute to the emergence of the Muslim Brotherhood and similar Islamic organizations. Through meticulous historical research, she uncovers the unexpected connections between Christian missionary efforts and the rise of Islamist groups in Egypt.
The book explores how Protestant evangelicals arrived in Egypt with intentions to convert and serve vulnerable children through schools, hospitals, and orphanages. Yet their presence sparked a defensive response from Egyptian Muslims who saw these institutions as threats to their faith and culture. Rather than simply opposing the missionaries, Islamic activists studied their methods and adapted their organizational strategies.
Baron demonstrates how the Muslim Brotherhood deliberately modeled their social welfare programs on the successful frameworks established by Christian missions. In their competition for Egypt's children, both groups created extensive networks of charitable institutions that would have lasting impact on Egyptian society.
This compelling historical narrative offers fresh insights into how religious movements influence and respond to one another, revealing the complex dynamics that shaped modern Islamic activism.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)
📄 Length: 245 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Christianity and other religions, islam
- ✓ Explore Missions to Muslims
- ✓ Explore Jamʻīyat al-Ikhwān al-Muslimīn (Egypt)
- ✓ Explore History
- ✓ Explore Relations
- ✓ Explore Egypt, religion
- ✓ Explore Christianity
- ✓ Explore Islam, relations, christianity
