Islamic Studies Orientalists and Muslim Scholars

Islamic Studies Orientalists and Muslim Scholars

What moral and intellectual duty do Muslim scholars have toward the contributions of Western orientalists who have studied and preserved Islamic manuscripts and knowledge?

About the Book

Islamic Studies Orientalists and Muslim Scholars, written by Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi and published in 1983 by Islamic Research and Publications, discusses the important services rendered by orientalists to the field of Islamic studies. Nadwi argues that it is a moral duty for Muslim scholars to acknowledge the valuable work of many Western orientalists who, driven by scholarly passion rather than political or missionary motives, discovered, edited, and published numerous important manuscripts and historical documents. The book highlights how these efforts have enriched Islamic scholarship and calls for a fair and appreciative attitude toward their contributions.

What You Will Discover

• The significant contributions of Western orientalists to Islamic studies
• The discovery, editing, and publication of valuable Islamic manuscripts and documents
• The scholarly motivations behind much orientalist research
• The moral responsibility of Muslim scholars to recognize these services
• Examples of how orientalist work has advanced research in various branches of Islamic learning
• A balanced perspective on the relationship between Muslim and Western scholarship
• Reflections on the importance of fair acknowledgment in academic and religious contexts

About the Author

Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi (1914–1999) was a prominent Indian Muslim scholar, thinker, and author known for his works on Islamic history, da‘wah, and Muslim intellectual revival.

Who Is This Book For?

This book is suitable for students and researchers of Islamic studies, the history of orientalism, and Muslim-Western intellectual relations, as well as Muslim scholars interested in a thoughtful discussion of academic collaboration and acknowledgment.