In a new glance, the article uncovers the dialogue revolving around Islam, Hérodote, and the Eastern question. Here is an overview of the week’s books.
“The Islam of Enlightenment: History of Muslim Humanism (7th-21st century) Olivier Hanne, Tallandier, 368 pages, 23.90 euros
In a context where public debate on Islam often vacillates between Orientalist fascination and categorical rejection, Olivier Hanne, a renowned Islamologist and researcher at Aix-Marseille University, boldly presents “The Islam of Enlightenment.” Far from the clichés that freeze Islam in a conflictual present or a fantasized Middle Ages, the author depicts a fourteen-century tapestry to illuminate the humanistic currents that have traversed Muslim civilization. This title alone represents a historiographical challenge: discussing an “Islam of Enlightenment” challenges dominant narratives that mechanically oppose Western reason and Islamic obscurantism. Hanne, known for his rigor as a historian in works like “The Qur’an” or “Europe Facing Islam,” methodically documents moments when Muslim thought embraced humanistic values, from the rational Mutazilism of the 9th-10th centuries to the mystical Sufism of Ibn Arabi and Al-Rumi, to reform movements like the Nahda in the 19th century and contemporary intellectuals like Mohammed Arkoun or Abdennour Bidar.
The book reveals how, at different times, Muslim thinkers prioritized contextual exegesis over literalism, reason over dogma, and universal openness over identity closure. Hanne shows that these currents, far from marginal, deeply influenced the intellectual history of Islam, even if often overshadowed by political powers or more conservative interpretations. The book deconstructs the idea of an essential incompatibility between Islam and humanism, between the Muslim faith and the tradition of Enlightenment. Particularly stimulating is how the author draws parallels between theological debates in the Muslim world and those in medieval and modern Christian civilizations. The question of the relationship between faith and reason, the tension between individual freedom and religious authority, the role of interpretation in the face of sacred texts – these are all questions that have animated both civilizations at various times. This approach of cross-history, dear to Olivier Hanne, allows us to overcome the traps of exceptionalism and cultural relativism.”
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Context: This text provides a detailed overview of Olivier Hanne’s book “The Islam of Enlightenment,” highlighting the author’s approach in dismantling stereotypes and discussing the humanistic aspects of Muslim civilization throughout history.
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