The Formation of Arab Reason: Text, Tradition and the Construction of Modernity in the Arab World (Contemporary Arab Scholarship in the Social Sciences)

The Centre for Arab Unity Studies. 462 pages. 2011. ISBN 13: 978 1 84885 061 3 Since the earliest period of Islamic history, Arab thought has been dominated by a reverence for tradition and textual analysis. In this groundbreaking work, the great contemporary Arab philosopher Mohammed Abed al-Jabri seeks to chart a route towards modernity via the proposition that respect for textualism and tradition are not inconsistent with rationalism and that both history and philosophy are key to the evolution of knowledge systems and ways of reasoning in Arab culture. This book has been an enormous influence within the Arab world on the 'Islam and Modernity' discourse. It is published here for the first time in English and provides a fascinating insight into the currents of contemporary Arab thought. Contents Arab Reason . In What Meaning? Preliminary Approaches Reason and Culture Arab Cultural Time and the Problematic of Development The Era of Codification: The Authoritative Referential Framework of Arab Thought The Formation of Arab Reason: The Epistemological and Ideological in Arab Culture The Bedouin, the Maker of the Arab World Legitimising the Legitimiser (al-tashrlc li-l-musharri‘') 1: The Codification of ‘Opinion’ and ‘Legitimisation’ of the Past Legitimising the Legitimiser 2: Analogising According to 'Precedent' The Religious 'Rational' and the Irrational of 'Reason' Resigned Reason 1: Within the Ancient Legacy Resigned Reason 2: Within Arab-Islamic Culture The Introduction of Reason into Islam The Crisis of Fundamentals and the Fundamentals of the Crisis A New Beginning . However! Conclusion: Knowledge, Science and Politics in Arab Culture Since The Earliest Period Of Islamic History, Arab Thought And Reason Has Been Dominated By A Reverence For Tradition And Textual Analysis. In This Groundbreaking Work, The Great Contemporary Arab Philosopher Mohammed Abed Al-jabri Seeks To Chart A Course Towards Modernity Via The Proposition That Respect For Textualism And Tradition Are Not Inconsistent With Rationalism, And That Both History And Philosophy Are Key To The Evolution Of Knowledge Systems And Ways Of Reasoning In Arab Culture. Al-jabri Dissects The Systems Through Which Knowledge Is Obtained And Verified In Arab Thought, And Demonstrates Their Fundamental Bias Towards Analogical Reasoning And Premodern Authoritative Referents, Some Of Which Are Inherently Resistant To Empirical Analysis. In An Impassioned Defence Of Rationalism, He Argues That These Textual Reference Points Must Be Interpreted And Mediated With Critical Analytical Tools. He Advocates An Evolution Of Arab Thought To Accommodate The Changeability Of Values, Interpretations And Structures Over Space And Time, To Escape An A-historical Imprisonment. --book Jacket. Part 1: Arab Reason-- In What Meaning? : Preliminary Approaches: 1. Reason And Culture -- 2. Arab Cultural Time And The Problematic Of Development -- 3. The Eral Of Codification: The Authoritative Referential Framework Of Arab Thought -- Part 2: The Formation Of Arab Reason: The Epistemological And Ideological In Arab Culture: 4. The Bedouin, The Maker Of The Arab World -- 5. Legitimising The Legitimiser 1. The Codification Of 'opinion' And 'legitimisation' Of The Past -- 6. Legitimising The Legitimiser. 2. : Analogising According To 'precedent' -- 7. The Religious 'rational' And The Irrational Of 'reason' -- 8. Resigned Reason 1: Within The Ancient Legacy -- 9. Resigned Reason 2: Within Arab-islamic Culture -- 10. The Introduction Of Reason Into Islam -- 11. The Crisis Of Fundamentals And The Fundamentals Of The Crisis -- 12. A New Beginning ... However! -- Conclusion: Knowledge, Science And Politics In Arab Culture. Muḥammad Ābid Jābirī. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Translated From The Arabic. The rapid expansion of the early Islamic world is conventionally ascribed to a combination of perceptive military leadership and religious fervour. By looking at the administration and taxation which would be implemented by political rulers, Abd al-Aziz Duri demonstrates how these leaders were able to provide for growth, development and durability in a turbulent time, as well as efficient mechanisms for taxation and tax collection. Drawing on original research into the fiscal policies of this period, especially land tax and the tax on non-Muslim populations, Duri shows how different models evolved and renewed themselves. He examines the political systems that accompanied these fiscal regimes, and attitudes towards them. He also scrutinises the institutions which supported this remarkably coherent mode of governance, offering a new perspective on the relationship between politics and Islam in this formative period. By looking at these early Islamic institutions, Duri makes the argument that due to persistence of such organization, from the early Muslim conquests and the later Umayyad era to the end of'Abbasid rule, the leaders of the time can be seen to be particularly politically and organizationally skilled. Duri's work makes a major contribution to our understanding of how Islam established itself and flourished as a lasting major force in the development of world history.Abd al-Aziz Duri (1919-2010) was Professor of History at the University of Jordan, having previously served as President of Baghdad University from 1963 to 1968. Among the most influential of his books on early Islam are The Economic History of Iraq in the Fourth Century AH (1948), An Introduction to the History of the Dawn of Islam (1949), and The Early Abbasid Period (1988), as well as treatises on Arab nationalism such as The Historical Roots of Arab Nationalism (1960) and The Historical Formation of the Arab nation: A Study in Identity and Consciousness (1987). Throughout the Middle East, and in the west as well, there has been much discussion concerning the notion of Islamic rule and the application of shari'ah by the state. Central to these debates are the three key themes that Mohammad Abed al-Jabri looks at in this book: democracy, human rights and law. Jabri, one of the most influential political philosophers in the contemporary Middle East, examines how these three concepts have been applied in the history of the Arab world, and shows that they are determined by political and social context, not by Islamic doctrine. Jabri argues that in order to develop democratic societies in which human rights are respected, the Arab world cannot simply rely on old texts and traditions. Nor can it import democratic models from the West. Instead, he says, a new tradition will have to be forged by today's Arabs themselves, on their own terms. Through analysis of contemporary Arab ideology, its doubts about democracy, whether human rights are universal and the role of women and minorities in Islamic society, he expounds on the most pertinent issues in modern political philosophy. This lively interrogation of the building blocs of western conceptions of a modern state is a classic text and is vital for all students of modern Islamic political thought. "Mohammad Abed al-Jabri is one of the most influential political philosophers in the contemporary Middle East. A critical rationalist in the tradition of Avincenna and Averroes, he emphasises the distinctive political and cultural heritage of the Arab world whilst rejecting the philosophical discourses that have been used to obscure its democratic deficit." "This volume introduces an English-language audience for the first time to writings that have had a major impact on Arab political thought. Wide-ranging in scope yet focused in detail, these essays interrogate concepts such as democracy, law, and human rights, looking at how they have been applied in the history of the Arab world, and show that they are determined by political and social context, not by Islamic doctrine." "Jabri argues that in order to develop democratic societies in which human rights are respected, the Arab world cannot simply rely on old texts and traditions. Nor can it import democratic models from the West. Instead, he says, a new tradition will have to be forged by today's Arabs themselves, on their own terms."--Jacket. Mohammad Abed al-Jabri is one of the most influential political philosophers in the contemporary Middle East. A critical rationalist in the tradition of Avincenna and Averroes, he emphasizes the distinctive political and cultural heritage of the Arab world while rejecting the philosophical discourses that have been used to obscure its democratic deficit. This volume introduces an English-language audience for the first time to writings that have had a major impact on Arab political thought. Wide-ranging in scope yet focused in detail, these essays interrogate concepts such as democracy, law, and human rights, looking at how they have been applied in the history of the Arab world, and show that they are determined by political and social context, not by Islamic doctrine. Jabri argues that in order to develop democratic societies in which human rights are respected, the Arab world cannot simply rely on old texts and traditions. Nor can it import democratic models from the West. Instead, he says, a new tradition will have to be forged by today's Arabs themselves, on their own terms. The rapid expansion of the early Islamic world is conventionally ascribed to a combination of brilliant military leadership and religious fervour. In this book, Abd al-Aziz Duni demonstrates how the growth, development and durability of early Islamic governance derived from highly sophisticated systems of administration (in which the idea of a Muslim ummah was the central feature) as well as efficient mechanisms for taxation and tax collection. Drawing on in-depth research into the fiscal policies of this period, especially land tax and the tax on non-Muslim populations, Duri shows how different models evolved and renewed themselves. He examines the political systems that accompanied these fiscal regimes, and attitudes towards them. He also scrutinizes the institutions which supported this remarkably coherent mode of governance, offering a new perspective on the relationship between politics and Islam in this formative period The rapid expansion of the early Islamic world is conventionally ascribed to a combination of brilliant military leadership and religious fervor. In this book, Abd-Al-Aziz Duri demonstrates how the growth, development, and durability of early Islamic governance derived from highly sophisticated systems of administration (in which the idea of a Muslim ummah was the central feature) as well as efficient mechanisms for taxation and tax collection. The fact that in a highly dynamic period of Islamic history a seamless system of administration could endure for several centuries, from the early Muslim conquests and the later Umayyad era to the end of Abbasid rule, is testimony to the political and organizational skills of these early Muslim leaders. Duri's work makes a major contribution to our understanding of how Islam established itself and flourished as a lasting major force in the development of world history. Annotation Since the earliest period of Islamic history, Arab thought has been dominated by a reverence for tradition and textual analysis. In this groundbreaking work, the great contemporary Arab philosopher Mohammed Abed Al-Jabiri seeks to chart a route towards modernity via the proposition that respect for textualism and tradition are not inconsistent with rationalism and that both history and philosophy are key to the evolution of knowledge systems and ways of reasoning in Arab culture. This book has been an enormous influence within the Arab world on the Islam and modernity discourse. It is published here for the first time in English and provides a fascinating insight into the currents of contemporary Arab thought The rapid expansion of the early Islamic world is conventionally ascribed to a combination of brilliant military leadership and religious fervour. In this book, Abd al-Aziz Duri demonstrates how the growth, development and durability of early Islamic governance derived from highly sophisticated systems of administration (in which the idea of a Muslim ummah was the central feature) as well as efficient mechanisms for taxation and tax collection. The fact that in a highly dynamic period of Islamic history a seamless system of administration could endure for several centuries, from the early Musl 1. Religion, state and the application of Islamic Sharīʻah. The question of religion and the state ; The question of applying al-Sharīʻah Democracy an human rights. Democracy: its historical role in the Arab world ; Democracy and the current Arab reality ; Cultural implantation of human rights in the contemporary Arab conscience ; Enhancing awareness of human rights in Islam. By Abd Al-aziz Duri ; Translated For The Centre For Arab Unity Studies By Razia Ali ; Edited With Additional Annotation By The Centre For Arab Unity Studies. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [205]-215) And Index. Muḥammad ʻĀbid Jābirī is one of the most important philosophers in the contemporary Arab world. In this book, he taps in to highly topical debates on Islam and modernity