موقف المفكرين المسلمين من الاستشراق: بين ضياع الهوية وصحوة الوعي

Abstract

This study examines the positions of a number of Muslim intellectuals toward the phenomenon of Orientalism، which represents one of the major intellectual issues that has had a significant impact on the study of Islamic heritage and the formation of Islam’s image within Western thought. Muslim intellectuals have held varying attitudes toward Orientalism، ranging from partial acceptance of some of its scholarly methodologies and benefiting from its textual investigations،  to sharp criticism of certain Orientalist studies that contain intellectual biases or ideological backgrounds that have influenced the interpretation and understanding of Islamic history. The research is based on a central question: How did Muslim intellectuals engage with Orientalist scholarship? Did some uncritical readings of this body of work contribute to weakening awareness of civilizational identity،  or did scholarly criticism of it led to an intellectual awakening that seeks to reread and defend Islamic heritage through a sound academic methodology?

To address this issue،  the study adopts a historical-analytical approach by examining selected examples of Muslim thinkers who addressed Orientalism through critique or analysis. It also seeks to clarify the nature of their positions and their impact on shaping contemporary intellectual awareness toward Orientalist studies. Furthermore،  the research highlights the role of these perspectives in moving from a stage of uncritical reception to a phase of scholarly awareness that balances benefiting from Orientalist contributions while preserving the intellectual and civilizational identity of the Muslim community.