Terminology in the Early Modern Arab Renaissance between the East and the West

Abstract

This research aims to identify the methodological foundations applied in developing terminology to express new concepts at the beginning of the modern Arab renaissance in the 19th century. It also seeks to understand the unity and diversity in this terminology, and finally, to assess the extent to which these experiences can be utilized. The early modern Arab renaissance began in Egypt and Tunisia before the European colonial forces entered these countries, and the initial efforts were within an Islamic reformist awareness of the importance of recognizing new developments from all sources.

This research addresses issues of terminology in light of the works of Rifa'a al-Tahtawi (1801-1873), both translated and authored in Egypt, and Khayr al-Din al-Tunisi (1810-1890) through his book "The Surest Path to Knowing the Conditions of the States" (Tunisia 1284 AH / 1867 AD). Both are pioneering thinkers in their respective countries, with al-Tahtawi representing the Mashriq in this research and Khayr al-Din al-Tunisi representing the Maghreb. In their works, we find expressions of modern systems and institutions, and in al-Tahtawi’s works, we also find the challenges of terminology in various specializations.