Islam and modernity : the contribution of Khayr Al-Din Al-Tunisi

Abstract

The need to reconcile Islam and modernity assumed its prime in the discourse of the scholars and intellectuals throughout the 19th century. This issue was said to be addressed solely through the reform of the Islamic political, economic and administrative system along the Western pattern. While some scholars arguably condemned this view as a lavish infidel imitation, others justified it substantially from an Islamic standpoint, not only as a necessity but also as having been entrenched in Islam. Khayr al-Den al-Tenise had a pioneering effort in conceptualizing as well as Islamizing the whole reform project through his masterpiece entitled, Aqwem al-Maselik fe Manrifat Alwel al-Mamelik. The approach he espoused to implement his reform ideas, and the indelible impact that they have left, particularly, on Tunisia, his adoptive country, and, generally, on the Muslim world are the major focus of this research.