The Superman’s Introduction

“The Superman’s Introduction” by Salama Moussa

A Critical Analysis in the Context of the Arab Renaissance

1. The Journey of a Revolutionary Thinker

Salama Moussa was born in 1887 in the village of Bahnbay, near Zagazig in Egypt. He received his early education in Coptic and primary schools before moving to Cairo, where he obtained his baccalaureate in 1903.

His intellectual formation took a decisive turn during his studies abroad—first in France (1906–1909), then in England until 1913. There, he immersed himself in the latest Egyptological studies, engaged with the works of Marx, Voltaire, and Darwin, joined the Fabian Society, and was deeply influenced by George Bernard Shaw.

Upon returning to Egypt in 1910, he published The Superman’s Introduction. The book sent cultural shockwaves through Egyptian society and marked the beginning of a new phase of intellectual debate in the Arab world.

2. Historical and Cultural Context

The book appeared during a turbulent period in Egypt’s history:

British occupation (1882–1956) and its political consequences
The rise of the Arab Enlightenment (Nahda) and modernization efforts
The tension between tradition and Westernization
Widespread illiteracy (around 90% of Egyptians at the time)
The early stirrings of socialist and nationalist movements

In this climate, the book acted as a revolutionary manifesto, calling for a radical break with the past and the adoption of Western models as the sole path to progress. Moussa drew inspiration from Nietzsche’s concept of the Übermensch but adapted it to a local context.

3. Core Ideas in the Book

3.1 Westernization as a Strategy for Progress

Moussa argued for:

A cultural affiliation with Europe: “Let us turn our faces toward Europe and shape our philosophy according to its philosophy.”
A complete rupture with the East, which he saw as “backward” and obstructing Egypt’s progress
The application of social Darwinism: survival of the fittest in societies
Harsh self-criticism of Arab culture, which he described as stagnant and lagging behind civilization

3.2 Evolutionary Theory and Social Applications

Influenced by Darwin, Moussa proposed:

A materialist explanation of social evolution, independent of religious interpretations
The necessity of Egyptians’ “evolution,” both biologically and culturally
Advocating eugenics through intermarriage with Western women to “improve” the Egyptian stock
Critiquing what he saw as reverse racism—Egyptians’ ethnic insularity

3.3 Religion and Metaphysical Thought

In a chapter titled “The Origin of the Idea of God”, he:

Summarized the English writer Grant Allen’s critique of religion
Interpreted religion as a historical phenomenon explainable through material analysis
Denounced religion as “the opiate of the people” that hinders scientific progress
Urged replacing revelation with reason as the ultimate authority

3.4 The Egyptian Superman

Moussa envisioned:

A “new human” liberated from the chains of tradition
Philosophers and writers taking the role once held by prophets
Scientific education as the tool for producing the “superman”
Women’s emancipation as a precondition for societal advancement

4. Proposed Mechanisms of Change

Moussa laid out a program:

Linguistic revolution: simplifying Arabic and adopting colloquial writing to fight illiteracy
Educational reform: replacing religious curricula with scientific ones
Social organization: applying Fabian gradualism in reform
Cultural liberation: breaking religious and intellectual taboos
Genetic openness: encouraging intermarriage with Europeans to “improve the race”

5. Reactions and Historical Controversy

The book provoked a storm of criticism:

Religious establishment:
- Mustafa Sadiq al-Rafi‘i accused him of hostility to Islam
- Ibrahim Abdel Qader al-Mazni called him a “charlatan and sorcerer”
- Al-Azhar scholars condemned his ideas as outright heresy
Cultural elite:
- Abbas Mahmoud al-Aqqad quipped: “Salama Moussa proved something important: he is not an Arab. Scholars consider him a man of letters, and men of letters consider him a scholar.”
- Al-Risalah magazine dismissed him as “a writer more fluent in Latin than Arabic”
- Taha Hussein disagreed with Moussa’s call for a total break from Arab heritage
Liberal camp:
- Partial support for breaking intellectual stagnation
- Rejection of racialized notions of eugenics
- Reservations about abandoning Arab identity

6. Critical Analysis from a Contemporary Lens

Strengths:

Boldly challenged religious taboos in a conservative era
Linked progress to science rather than superstition
Raised pressing questions of social modernization
Offered sharp diagnoses of Arab cultural stagnation

Weaknesses:

Extreme Westernization: neglect of local cultural particularities
Endorsement of racist notions, including claims about Africans as “cannibals”
Oversimplification of complex social problems
Adoption of social Darwinism, echoing colonial justifications for domination
Internal contradictions: preaching liberation while internalizing colonial logic

7. Impact on Arab Thought

The book became a milestone:

Establishing a secular radical current in Arab intellectual life
Inspiring Egyptian and Arab socialists
Opening the door to critical examination of religious tradition
Influencing protégés like Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz, who called Moussa his “faithful teacher”
Paving the way for women’s liberation movements in the 1930s
Raising enduring questions about identity and cultural belonging

8. Comparison with Moussa’s Later Works

His thought evolved:

Socialism (1912): shift from individual Westernization to social justice
Woman Is Not Man’s Plaything (1955): a more realistic focus on women’s liberation
Egypt: The Cradle of Civilization: reconciling with Pharaonic heritage instead of rejecting it entirely
Evolution and the Origin of Man: deepening scientific engagement without extreme social extrapolations

9. Salama Moussa in History’s Balance

Despite controversy, Moussa remains:

The first to advocate socialism in the Arab world
A pioneer of secular modernization in Egypt
Founder of the Egyptian Association for Scientific Culture (1930)
A leading defender of free thought and intellectual emancipation
Author of 40 books that became foundational references

10. Relevance to Today’s Arab World

The issues Moussa raised remain alive:

The struggle between identity and globalization
Debates over secularism versus religion in public life
Educational crises balancing tradition and modernity
The challenge of reconciling cultural authenticity with modernization
Ongoing disputes over women’s role in society