A bit of background on the MB.
Following the end of World War I and the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the Caliphate, a symbolic system of government representative of Islamic power and unity, was abolished. Additional Western beliefs and traditions began to enter Egypt as the Islamic world modernized.
In March of 1928 Al-Banna, his younger brother and five others pledged to live and die for Islam and thus the Muslim Brotherhood was founded. Al-Banna introduced his organization to a welcoming audience and by 1936 the Muslim Brotherhood had expanded to every Egyptian province.
The Muslim Brotherhood skyrocketed from a small grassroots movement, into a mass movement as the political, cultural and religious atmosphere attracted individuals to the Brotherhood. Additionally, Al-Banna’s charisma and conviction inspired others to listen to him and understand his Islam centered ideals, while his teaching experience aided in his ability to speak clearly, efficiently and entertainingly.
In February of 1949, at 43 years of age, Al-Banna was assassinated by an Egyptian government agent near his office in Cairo(Swenson).
Survived by Al-Banna were his many followers and the fast growing and far-reaching Brotherhood he had so loyally backed. After his death the Muslim Brotherhood further developed its political interests and involvement in society. Militant groups that considered the Brotherhood too moderate, broke off from the Brotherhood to follow their violent paths to Islamization.
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~orr20l/classweb/worldpolitics116/pages/leaders.html