2005/01/01 by Bernard Lewıs · 38 citations
Social Sciences · #Islamic Studies and History #Middle East #Economic Justice #Political science #Law
paper · doi:10.2307/20034348
published in Foreign Affairs 84(3), 36 (Council on Foreign Relations)
openalex publication_date 2005/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2025/11/06
FOR MUSLIMS as for others, history is important, but they approach it with a special concern and awareness. The career of the Prophet Muhammad, the creation and expansion of the Islamic community and state, and the formulation and elaboration of the holy law of Islam are events history, known from historical memory or record and narrated and debated by historians since early times. In the Islamic Middle East, one may still find passionate arguments, even bitter feuds, about events that occurred centuries or sometimes millennia ago-about what happened, its significance, and its current relevance. This historical awareness has acquired new dimensions the modern period, as Muslims-particularly those the Middle East-have suffered new experiences that have transformed their vision of them selves and the world and reshaped the language which they discuss it. In 1798, the French Revolution arrived Egypt the form of a small expeditionary force commanded by a young general called Napoleon Bonaparte. The force invaded, conquered, and ruled Egypt without difficulty for several years. General Bonaparte proudly announced that he had come in the name of the French Republic, founded on the principles of liberty and equality. This was, of course,