Mustafa Abd al-Raziq by Taha Hussein

From the Works of Mustafa Abd al-Raziq by Taha Hussein

1. Nature and Structure of the Book

This volume brings together the diverse writings of Sheikh Mustafa Abd al-Raziq (1888–1947), edited and introduced by Taha Hussein, with a biographical sketch contributed by his brother, Ali Abd al-Raziq.

First published in 1957 by Dar al-Maaref, the book spans 502 pages and is divided into four main sections:

Pages from the Journey of Life: Personal memoirs and reflections.
Traveler’s Notes: Impressions from his journeys, especially to France.
Resident’s Notes: Essays on Egyptian social life.
Other Writings in Literature and Reform: Intellectual and reformist essays.

2. Highlights of the Content

A. Biography and Personal Experiences

Early life: Born in the village of Abu Jirj in Minya, he memorized the Qur’an and studied under Muhammad Abduh at al-Azhar, deeply influenced by Abduh’s reformist thought.
Journey to France: He recorded his impressions of French academic and cultural life, including vivid descriptions of his treatment at a French hospital for a chest illness.
Bond with Taha Hussein: The book underscores the deep friendship between the two men, with Hussein describing Abd al-Raziq as a “brother in spirit and intellect.”

B. Intellectual and Reformist Vision

Islamic philosophy: Abd al-Raziq defended the originality of Islamic thought, arguing that kalām (theology) and uṣūl al-fiqh (principles of jurisprudence) constituted a distinctly Islamic philosophy independent of Greek heritage.
Freedom of thought: He affirmed that faith and reason are not in conflict, insisting on liberating minds from blind tradition: “Those who serve intellectual freedom are servants of truth.”
Social issues:
- Women’s rights: Advocated women’s empowerment within Islamic principles, while rejecting uncritical imitation of the Western model.
- Religious tolerance: Recalled his friendship with an Indian youth of a different faith and nationality, stressing that shared humanity is the true basis of connection.

C. Notable Essays

Obligation: A translation of a philosophical text by Jules Simon, exploring the relationship between religion and philosophy.
Unveiling: A defense of intellectual freedom and rejection of stagnation.
Suicide: A sociological analysis of its causes and motivations.

3. Literary Approach and Style

Language: His prose combined elegance and depth, blending classical eloquence with modern clarity.
Style: He moved seamlessly between personal, autobiographical narrative in his memoirs and logical, analytical argumentation in his essays.
Social critique: He challenged intellectual authoritarianism, as in his essay The Turban and the Fez, where he presented the tension between the two headpieces as a symbol of domination versus authenticity.

4. Historical and Intellectual Context

Pioneering role: In 1927, he became the first Egyptian professor to teach Islamic philosophy at Cairo University, introducing a participatory teaching method based on dialogue rather than rote instruction.
Influence: His works laid the foundation for a school of thought developed by his students—among them Zaki Naguib Mahmoud and Ali Sami al-Nashar—who advanced the study of Islamic philosophy as an authentic intellectual tradition.
Positions held: He served as Grand Imam of al-Azhar (1945–1947) and as Minister of Religious Endowments, becoming the first Azhar-trained scholar to hold a ministerial post in Egypt.

5. Taha Hussein’s Introduction and the Book’s Significance

The preface: Taha Hussein’s introduction is deeply personal, describing Abd al-Raziq as a lifelong companion of his imagination and affirming that the book represents “the truest words of one brother about another.”
Documentary value: The collection preserves writings that might otherwise have been lost, while also shedding light on overlooked dimensions of modern Egyptian intellectual history.
Intellectual legacy: The work remains a key reference for understanding the religious reform movement and philosophical renewal of the early twentieth century.

Summary Table of Contents

Main Section	Notable Content	Pages
Life Sketch	Biography by his brother Ali Abd al-Raziq, covering childhood, al-Azhar, and public roles.	20–88
Pages from the Journey of Life	Reflections on Muhammad Abduh, observations at al-Azhar, and social issues such as “cultural duality.”	89–152
Obligation	Translation and commentary on the relationship between religion and philosophy.	153–194
Traveler’s Notes	Impressions from his journeys, including descriptions of French hospitals.	195–210
Reformist Essays	“Unveiling,” “Cairo University,” “Women’s Rights,” and “Suicide.”	211–502

Conclusion: Why Does This Book Still Matter?

From the Works of Mustafa Abd al-Raziq is more than an anthology of a departed thinker’s writings; it is a window into an era of profound transformation in Egypt—between tradition and modernity, between Orientalist influence and authentic heritage.

Abd al-Raziq embodies a balanced reformist vision, rooted in Islamic authenticity while open to Western rationalism. For that reason, the book remains essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the intellectual roots of today’s debates on religion, reform, and modernity in the Arab world.

For the original summary in Arabic