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Summary
This book discusses Arab history, law, philosophy, politics, and literature, analyzing the challenges and responses aroused by the interaction between Western culture and the ancient and modern Arab cultures. It offers a wealth of information on the forces that have shaped Arab civilization and on several of the major figures who have contributed to its development. Some of the outstanding contributions include a comprehensive study of Dr. Zurayk as the advocate of rationalism in modern Arab thought by Hani A. Faris; a sober but challenging look at the use of Islamic history in our time by Muhsin Mahdi; an analysis of the expression of historicity in the Koran by Jacques Berque; an explanation of the concept of equity in Islamic law by Majid Khadduri; and the revelation of a Mamluk Magna Carta by Aziz Sourial Atiya.
"It will be essential for any serious student of Arab and Muslim civilization." --Marius Deeb, Georgetown University
"It will establish itself as one of the important sources of knowledge and reference in the field of Arabic and Middle Eastern studies." --K. I. H. Semaan, SUNY, Binghamton
"Arab Civilization is notable in terms of the breadth of the subjects covered and is appropriate in that it mirrors much of the work done by Constantine Zurayk himself. It is a very welcome addition to the literature in the field." --Rashid Khalidi, Columbia University
George N. Atiyeh is Head of the Near East Section of the Library of Congress; Ibrahim M. Oweiss is Professor of Economics at Georgetown University.
Table of Contents
Editors' Note
Preface
Part I. The Man and His Work
Constantine K. Zurayk: Advocate of Rationalism in Modern Arab Thought Hani A. Faris
Humanism and Secularism in the Modern Arab Heritage: The Ideas of al-Kawākibī and Zurayk George N. Atiyeh
Part 2. The Classical Heritage
On the Use of Islamic History: An Essay Muhsin Mahdi
The Expression of Historicity in the Koran Jacques Berque
Equity and Islamic Law Majid Khadduri
The Devolution of the Perfect State: Plato, Ibn Rushd, and Ibn Khaldun Majid Fakhry
al-Khwārizmī's Concept of Algebra Roshdi Rashed
Ibn Khaldun, the Father of Economics Ibrahim M. Oweiss
A Mamlūk "Magna Carta" Aziz Sourial Atiya
Part 3. The Modern Age: Challenges and Responses
The Memoirs of Nubar Pasha as a Source for the Social History of Egypt Charles Issawi
The Neopatriarchal Discourse: Language and Discourse in Contemporary Arab Society Hisham Sharabi
The Interplay Between Social and Cultural Change: The Case of Germany and the Arab Middle East Bassam Tibi
Criticism and the Heritage: Adonis as an Advocate of a New Arab Culture Mounah A. Khouri
Aḥmad Amīn and 'Abbās Maḥmūd al-'Aqqād Between al-Quadīm and al-Jadīd: European Challenge and Islamic Response Ibrahim Ibrahim
Amīn al-Rīḥānī and King 'Abdul-'Aziz Ibn Sa'ūd Ifran Shahid
A Reinterpretation of the Origins and Aims of the Great Syrian Revolt, 1925-27 Philip S. Khoury
The Social and Economic Structure of Bāb-al-Muṣallā (al-Mīdān), Damascus, 1825-75 Abdul Karim Rafeq
Imperial Germany: A View from Damascus Samir M. Seikaly
The Egyptian Press under Nasser and al-Sadat Fauzi M. Najjar
