The Arab Perspective Rejecting Orientalism

Abstract

The phenomenon of Orientalism is an intellectual movement that has played a major role in shaping Arab thought and literature, both in the past and the present. Orientalism, in essence, seeks through its various means, methods, and ideas to impose its concepts upon the Arab-Islamic world. Many Arab scholars and writers studied under prominent Orientalists, adopting their ideas and theories; however, numerous others firmly rejected the Orientalists’ views, methodologies, and intellectual approaches.

By tracing the writings of Arab intellectuals and researchers who have criticized Orientalism under various titles, it becomes evident that they share a common perspective—viewing Orientalism as a form of intellectual invasion and an attack on Islam. This began with criticism of the Holy Qur’an, as the final divine revelation, and extended to the noble Prophetic Sunnah, aiming to fragment Muslim unity and weaken their cultural and spiritual strength.

A large number of Arab thinkers and public figures—such as Shakib Arslan, Ahmad Faris al-Shidyaq, Anwar Najdi, and Malik Bennabi—stood in opposition to Orientalism, exposing its misconceptions and biases.

This study moves from the stage of defending identity to that of constructive criticism and conscious intellectual engagement. It explores the efforts of several Arab thinkers who contributed to clarifying this stance, emphasizing that confrontation, as they see it, should not rely on emotional reactions, but rather on building an independent Arab knowledge system grounded in heritage and critical reason—one that restores the Arab individual’s awareness of his cultural identity and civilizational role in the world.