The period from 1939 to 1966, marked by World War II and its aftermath, significantly altered global power dynamics and the colonial landscape. As Britain, France, and Germany emerged weakened from the war, the United States and the Soviet Union rose as superpowers, igniting the Cold War. Amidst this geopolitical shift, a wave of decolonization swept through Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, with numerous nations striving for independence.

In this context, the Muslim world experienced its own tumultuous changes. Egypt, under Gamal Abdul Nasser, became a focal point of Arab nationalism and anti-imperialism. Nasser’s secular modernist regime ousted the monarchy in a 1952 coup and later nationalized the Suez Canal in 1956, asserting Egypt’s sovereignty against Western influence. Despite initial success, Nasser’s vision faced challenges, including a proxy war in Yemen and opposition from secular modernist rivals and Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, led by Sayyid Qutb.

The post-war era also witnessed the contentious emergence of Israel. The United Nations’ 1947 proposal to partition Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states was accepted by Jewish leaders but rejected by Arab nations. The subsequent 1948 Arab-Israeli War led to the establishment of Israel and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, a situation that remains a point of deep contention in the region.