Abdul-Karim Rafeq; Humanist and Man of the nahdha

Abstract

Beginning in the second half of the nineteenth century, a new ideology with two main branches came into existence, competing with the dominant Sufi philosophy: this was the ideology of the nahdha or enlightenment and of bourgeois alienation. This new ideology was divided into two main trends, Islamic renewal, and liberal secularism. There were five stages of nahdha and Rafeq himself was born during the second stage of the nahdha. This chapter discusses Dr. Rafeq's studies in Arabic and their contribution to the nahdha. The stagnation and fossilization that make up an important part of present day Arab reality put the importance of Rafeq's studies in their proper context. His work can guide readers towards the goal of rescuing historical investigation from its present state of inertia. Much of Rafeq's work is based on the documents of the sharia courts. Keywords:Abdul-Karim Rafeq; Arab world; humanist; Islamic renewal; liberal secularism; nahdha; Ottoman Empire; Sufi philosophy