Department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies
Subject: Muslim Traditionalism and Reformism: An Epistemological Analysis of Modern Islam's Great Debate.
Supervisor: Dr. Florian Zemmin, Prof. Simon Wolfgang Fuchs.
Abstract: My research project delves into the heart of modern Islamic thought, exploring the epistemological debate between traditionalist and reformist strands, with a focus on the Sunni context in the Arab and Anglophone worlds. By analyzing writings of prominent figures since the 19th century, I aim to uncover the deep-seated epistemological differences that fuel this ongoing debate regarding religious authority and interpretive approaches. My work compares these perspectives with Western epistemology and pre-modern Islamic views, as an analytical framework. It seeks to trace the evolution of Muslim traditionalism in the modern era and offer a new categorization of Islamic thinkers and movements, based on epistemological stances.