Genealogy of an Intellectual Duality: A Comparative Examination of the Characteristics of Traditional Islam and Religious Intellectualism

Document Type : Scholary

Authors

1 Department of Law and Jurisprudence, Faculty of Islamic Denominations, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran

2 Department of Social Studies, Women and Family Studies Research Center, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran

3 Department of Theological Schools, Faculty of Islamic Nations Studies, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran

Abstract

This article provides a comparative analysis of the two major intellectual currents within the contemporary Islamic world: "Traditional Islam" and "Religious Intellectualism" (also known as Intellectual or Reformist Islam). Employing a descriptive-analytical methodology and documentary research, the study identifies and contrasts the core characteristics of these two competing paradigms. The findings reveal a fundamental dichotomy. Traditional Islam is characterized by its emphasis on preserving the classical heritage (Naqli sciences), textualism, and a conservative approach that often resists change and modern epistemological challenges. It prioritizes the transmission and interpretation of historical religious scholarship. In stark contrast, Religious Intellectualism centers on rationality, contemporary reinterpretation (ijtihad) of religious texts, constructive engagement with modern concepts, and the development of a coherent theological and philosophical system responsive to contemporary needs. The primary points of divergence lie in their respective attitudes toward reason ('aql), the authority of tradition (Sunnah), and modernity. Understanding this intellectual duality is essential for analyzing the socio-political and cultural transformations within Muslim-majority societies, from reform movements to social upheavals. The article argues that the future of Islamic thought hinges on the potential for a constructive dialogue and dynamic jurisprudence (ijtihad) that can bridge this gap. It concludes that while the differences are profound and rooted in opposing epistemologies, the path forward requires moving beyond rigid opposition towards a synthesis that respects textual authenticity while embracing a rational and contextually relevant hermeneutics to address the complex challenges of the modern world.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Abbas, M. B. (2017). Between western academia and pakistan: Fazlur rahman and the fight for fusionism. Modern Asian Studies, 51(3), 736–68.
Abbas, M. B. (2021). Whose Islam?: The western university and modern islamic thought in Indonesia. Stanford University Press.
Abbas, T. (2025). Capitalism, state power, and the production of extremism. Springer Briefs in Sociology. Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-99921-5.
Alsuhaymi, A. O., & Atallah, F. A. (2025). Reason and revelation in Ibn Taymiyyah’s critique of philosophical theology: a contribution to contemporary islamic philosophy of religion. Religions, 16(7), 809-824.
Amin, F. (2024). The typologies of Islamic thought: Mapping The contemporary intellectual movements in Indonesia. Jurnal Theologia, 35(1), 15–38.
Arif, Z., Zarbaliyev, H., & Ja’far, J. (2023). Ulama and knowledge in modern Aceh: Abu Teupin Raya on religious sciences». Nahrasiyah: Journal of Aceh and Malay Archipelago Heritage, 1(1), 69–83.
Audi, R. (2011). Rationality and religious commitment. Oxford University Press.
Bhat, A. M., & Bisati, A. A. (2025). Rationality in the Qur’an: Integrating Reason and revelation for contemporary Islamic education. Dirasah International Journal of Islamic Studies, 3(1), 1–17.
Blok, V. (2014). Look who’s talking: Responsible innovation, the paradox of dialogue and the voice of the other in communication and negotiation processes. Journal of Responsible Innovation, 1(2), 171–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/23299460.2014.924239.
Brahimi, M. A., & Lazreg, H. B. (2021). Post-Islamism and intellectual production: A bibliometric analysis of the evolution of contemporary Islamic thought. Religions, 12(1), 49-65.
Choueiri, Y. M. (Ed.). (2005). A companion to the history of the middle east: Choueiri/A Companion. Blackwell Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470996423.
Codd, R. A. (1999). A critical analysis of the role of ijtihad in legal reforms in the Muslim world. Arab LQ, 14, 112-119.
Cömert, L. (2024). Analyzing the interaction between Islam and ideology in the political thought of Hassan Al-Banna and Ayatollah Khomeini. Turkish Journal of Shiite Studies, 6(1), 67–86.
Crow, K. D. (2006). The intellect Islamic thought: Mind and heart. KATHA-The Official Journal of the Centre for Civilisational Dialogue, 2(1), 1–22.
Dalhat, Y. (2015). Introduction to research methodology in Islamic studies. Journal of Islamic Studies and Culture, 3(2), 147–52.
Dallal, A.S. (2018). Islam without Europe: Traditions of Reform in eighteenth-century Islamic thought. UNC Press Books.
Dedi, S. (2020). Ushul fiqih menurut paradigma filsafat ilmu (Kajian ontologi, epistemologi, dan aksiologi)[Usul fiqh according to the paradigm of philosophy of science (Study of ontology, epistemology, and axiology)]. Al-Istinbath: Jurnal Hukum Islam, 5(2 November), 289–310.
Djafri, M. T., Taqiyuddin, B. N., Tajuddin, M. S., & Al Rasyid, H. H. (2023). Religious thought in Indonesia (An analysis of Islamic traditionalism and modernism) [Pemikiran keagamaan di Indonesia (Analisis terhadap pemikiran tradisionalisme dan modernisme Islam)]. AL-QIBLAH: Jurnal Studi Islam Dan Bahasa Arab, 2(2), 144–56.
El-Tobgui, C. Sh. (2019). Ibn Taymiyya on reason and revelation: A study of darʾ taʿāruḍ al-ʿaql wa-l-naql (Vol. 111). Brill.
Fadel, M. (2008). The true, the good and the reasonable: The theological and ethical roots of public reason in Islamic law. Canadian Journal of Law & Jurisprudence, 21(1), 5–69.
Fraser, R. J., & Griffin, M. (2020). ‘Why sit ye here and die’? Counterhegemonic histories of the black female intellectual in nineteenth-century America». Journal of American Studies, 54(5), 1005–31.
Gabsi, Z. (2024). Islam, reason, and modernity. In Z. Gabsi (Ed.). Muslim perspectives on Islamophobia. Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-57300-2_6.
Ganeri, M. (2020). Western philosophy and Christian theology in twentieth-century Hindu thought. In The Routledge handbook of Hindu-Christian relations (pp. 41-53). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003139843-5/western-philosophy-christian-theology-twentieth-century-hindu-thought-martin-ganeri.
Grassie, T. (2025). Cross-Cultural dialogue between religion and philosophy: The clash and integration of traditional and modern values in the context of globalization. Studies on Religion and Philosophy, 1(1), 9–24.
Haddad, M. (2020). Muslim reformism - A critical history: Is Islamic religious reform possible? (Vol. 11). Philosophy and Politics - Critical Explorations. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36774-9
Harasani, H. (2013). The role of ijtihad in progressing Islamic law in modern times. US-China Law Review, 10, 361.
Hashish, A. A. (2010). Ijtihad institutions: The key to Islamic democracy bridging and balancing political and intellectual Islam. Richmond Journal of Global Law and Business, 9, 61–84.
Healy, P. (2006). Human rights and intercultural relations: A hermeneutico-dialogical approach. Philosophy & Social Criticism, 32(4), 513–541.
Heilman, S. C. (2006). Sliding to the right: The contest for the future of American Jewish Orthodoxy. University of California Press.
Hellmann, G. (2003). Are dialogue and synthesis possible in international relations? International Studies Review, 5(1), 123–123.
Horton, R. (1975). On the rationality of conversion. Africa, 45(3), 219–235.
Huda, Sh. (2021). Ulama pewaris para nabi; Kajian awal tipologi ulama kontemporer perspektif Abdullah Saeed [Scholars, the inheritors of the prophets: A preliminary study of contemporary scholar typology from Abdullah Saeed’s perspective]. Religi: Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama, 17(1), 78–104.
Hunaida, W. L. (2016). Potret prospek pendidikan agama Islam kekinian: Integrasi inklusivitas Islam dalam PAI [Portrait of the prospects of contemporary Islamic religious education: Integration of Islamic inclusivity in Islamic religious education]. Didaktika Religia, 4(2), 1–22.
Ibrahim, A. (2012a). Contemporary Islamic thought: A critical perspective. Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations, 23(3), 279–294. https://doi.org/10.1080/09596410.2012.676781
Ibrahim, A. (2012b). Contemporary Islamic thought: A critical perspective. Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations, 23(3), 279–294. https://doi.org/10.1080/09596410.2012.676781
Ibrahim, M. R. (2019). Memahami sains Islam melalui pembentukan kerangka ilmu dalam epistemologi Islam: Understanding Islamic science through the framework of knowledge in Islamic epistemology. ‘Abqari Journal, 20(2), 99–115.
Ikhwan, A. (2016). Leadership in Islamic education: Study of thematic Al-Qur’an and Al-Hadist. ULUL ALBAB Jurnal Studi Islam, 17(1), 31–46.
Imana, Y., & Sucipto, I. (2024). Konsep dan metode ijtihad dalam Islam: Sumber penting dalam pengembangan hukum Islam [The concept and method of ijtihad in Islam: An important source in the development of Islamic law]. An-Nisa: Journal of Islamic Family Law, 1(2), 26–42.
Iner, D., & Yucel, S. (2015). Muslim identity formation in religiously diverse societies. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Jahanbakhsh, F. (2021). Different forms of religious thought in modern Iran. In The Routledge International Handbook of Contemporary Muslim Socio-Political Thought. Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003143826-10/different-forms-religious-thought-modern-iran-forough-jahanbakhsh
Jung, D. (2011). Orientalists, Islamists and the global public sphere: A genealogy of the modern essentialist image of Islam. Equinox.
Kadir, N. A. K., & Mohd Nor, M. R. (2012). The role of ulama in reconstructing religious education in Malaysia during early 20th century. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, 11(9), 1257–1265.
Kadri, H. (2024). The enduring significance of Islamic philosophy: Navigating traditions and cultivating wisdom. Oyunul-Mesail Journal, 2(3), 140–150.
Karabela, M. (2011). The development of dialectic and argumentation theory in post-classical Islamic intellectual history [Unpublished PhD Thesis]. McGill University.
Krotkoff, H. (1975). Narration in the German novelle: Theory and interpretation. JSTOR.
Kulsum, U. (2020). Epistemologi Islam dalam tinjauan filosofis. Urwatul Wutsqo: Jurnal Studi Kependidikan Dan Keislaman, 9(2), 229–241.
Li, R., & Froese, P. (2025). For the power or the glory? The religiosity of America’s religious nationalists. Socius, 11, 23780231251351703.
Mansouri, F. (2020). On the discursive and methodological categorisation of Islam and Muslims in the West: Ontological and epistemological considerations. Religions, 11(10), 501.
Metcalf, B. (1978). The madrasa at Deoband: A model for religious education in modern India. Modern Asian Studies, 12(1), 111–134.
Mignolo, W. (2011). The darker side of Western modernity: Global futures, decolonial options. Duke University Press.
Minardi, A. (2018). The new Islamic revivalism in Indonesia. Journal of Indonesian Islam, 12(2), 247–264.
Mirsepassi, A. (2006). Religious intellectuals and Western critiques of secular modernity. Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East, 26(3), 416–433.
Mohanapriya, B., & Suriya, M. (2025). Indian knowledge systems: Principles and practices. SSS Publications.
Mosaad, W. M. (2017). The transmission of the Islamic tradition in the early modern era: The life and writings of Aḥmad Al-Dardīr. University of Exeter.
Mura, A. (2012). A genealogical inquiry into early Islamism: The discourse of Hasan al-Banna. Journal of Political Ideologies, 17(1), 61–85. https://doi.org/10.1080/13569317.2012.644986
Najjar, F. M. (1996). The debate on Islam and secularism in Egypt. Arab Studies Quarterly, 18(2), 1–21.
Nasir, S. B. S., Binti Ahmad H., Osman, R., Binti Muhamad Shatir, N. S., & Hailong, M. (2021). The role of Aqal in contemporary Islamic thought. AL-HIKMAH: International Journal of Islamic Studies and Human Sciences, 4, 27–63.
Ndlovu-Gatsheni, S. J. (2012). Coloniality of power in development studies and the impact of global imperial designs on Africa. Australasian Review of African Studies, 33(2), 48–73. https://doi.org/10.3316/INFORMIT.066503630435392
Nurhadi, N. (2019). The importance of Maqashid Sharia as a theory in Islamic economic business operations. International Journal of Islamic Business and Economics (IJIBEC), 3(2), 130–145.
Paidar, P. (2001). Gender of democracy: The encounter between feminism and reformism in contemporary Iran. United Nations Research Institute for Social Development.
Rahman, F. (1966). The status of the individual in Islam. Islamic Studies, 5(4), 319–330.
Rahman, G. (2025). Reconstructing Islamic identity in modern times: A narrative review of educational reform and intellectual responses. Sinergi International Journal of Islamic Studies, 3(1), 29–43.
Rahman, H. (2021). The approach of shura in Rachid Ghannouchi’s conception of the state. Atatürk Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Dergisi, 35(3), 879–899.
Ramadan, T. (2009). Islam, the West and the challenges of modernity. Kube Publishing Ltd. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=3Tw9BAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR3&dq=.+Tariq+Ramadan+(2009)+&ots=vNVkfzHCka&sig=fgtiNcBbe11fEe-NSGSHjuY_o5U
Reagan, T. G. (2004). Non-Western educational traditions: Alternative approaches to educational thought and practice. Routledge.
Sabic-El-Rayess, A. (2020). Epistemological shifts in knowledge and education in Islam: A new perspective on the emergence of radicalization amongst Muslims. International Journal of Educational Development, 73, 102148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2019.102148
Schumacher, L. (2015). Rationality as virtue. Ashgate.
Sedgwick, M. (2021). Traditionalism and the far right in Argentina. Politics, Religion & Ideology, 22(2), 143–163. https://doi.org/10.1080/21567689.2021.1904909
Seesemann, R. (2018). Epistemology or ideology? Toward a relational perspective on Islamic knowledge in Africa. Journal of Africana Religions, 6(2), 232–268.
Somantri, Y. A., & Sucipto, I. (2024). Ijtihad sebagai pilar kelangsungan hukum Islam di tengah perubahan zaman [Ijtihad as a pillar of the continuity of Islamic law amid changing times]. AN-NISA: Journal of Islamic Family Law, 1(3), 43–53.
Surbakti, S. B. S., Harahap, R., & Hasanah, U. (2024). Future perspectives on the Islamic personality model: Integrating spiritual, moral, intellectual, social, personal, and behavioral dimensions for holistic development. Journal on Islamic Studies, 1(1), 17–35.
Syeed, S. S., & El-Muhammady, A. (2024). Reconciliation and Islamisation: A roadmap for an Islamic intellectual revival. Al-Shajarah: Journal of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC), S, 141–166. https://doi.org/10.31436/shajarah.vi.1933
Tanriverdi, S. (2020). Reformist Muslims in contemporary America. Oxford University Press.
Taufiq, D. (2022). Kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis siswa SMP pada materi sistem persamaan linear dua variabel. Plusminus: Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika, 2(2), 303–314.
Thomas, P. (2012). The creation-evolution debate: An Islamic perspective [Unpoblished PhD Thesis]. King’s College London.
Tirta, T. A. W. D. (2024). Revisiting Islamic philosophy: Ethical insights for education, social equity, and technological responsibility. Islamic Thought Review, 2(2), 163–177.
Unsal, A. (2020). A new approach to Islamic intellectual tradition. In Pathways to contemporary Islam. Amsterdam University Press.
Van Bruinessen, M. M. (1994). Pesantren and Kitab Kuning: Continuity and change in a tradition of religious learning. https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/20531
Wardani, W., Abu Ghazalah, M. F., & Ibrahim, M. (2021). Moral ideal-based Qur’an interpretation according to Shāṭibī’s concept of Maqāṣid al-Sharī’ah. Akademika: Jurnal Pemikiran Islam, 26(2), 185–202.
Whyte, S. A. (2024). Islamic religious authority in a modern age: Australian and global perspectives. Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-7931-8
Zainutdinov, D. R. (2023). Шигабутдин Марджани: Мыслитель, Историк, Правовед [Shigabutdin Marjani: Thinker, historian, legal scholar]. Islamovedeniye, 14(2(56)), 44–55.
Zaman, M. Q. (2010). The Ulama in contemporary Islam: Custodians of change. Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400837519
Zarkasyi, H. F. (2009). Liberalisasi pemikiran Islam: Gerakan bersama missionaris, orientalis dan kolonialis [Liberalization of Islamic thought: A joint movement of missionaries, orientalists and colonialists]. Tsaqafah, 5(1), 1–28.
 
Classical and Contemporary Islamic Studies
Volume 8, Issue 2
July 2026
Pages 297-313

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics