Muhammad Abduh

Muhammad Abduh (1849-1905 CE / 1266-1323 AH) was an Egyptian scholar, jurist, and reformer who served as the Grand Mufti of Egypt from 1899 until his death. Born in a village in the Nile Delta, he studied at al-Azhar and became a student of Jamal ad-Din al-Afghani, whose ideas about Islamic reform and revival deeply influenced him.

Muhammad Abduh called for a revival of ijtihad and a reinterpretation of Islamic teachings in light of modern conditions. He advocated for educational reform at al-Azhar, the reconciliation of Islamic thought with modern science, and a return to the original sources of Islam rather than blind adherence to later scholarly opinions. His tafsir, published in the journal al-Manar by his student Rashid Rida, emphasized a rational and practical approach to Quranic interpretation. He also authored Risalat at-Tawhid (The Theology of Unity), presenting Islamic theology in a modern framework.

Abduh's legacy is complex. His reforms of al-Azhar's curriculum, his legal opinions as Grand Mufti that addressed contemporary issues, and his intellectual framework influenced generations of Muslim thinkers. However, his approach has been criticized by traditional scholars who viewed some of his positions as excessive accommodation to Western thought. His students diverged significantly after his death, with Rashid Rida moving toward a more conservative Salafi orientation and others toward secular liberalism. He remains one of the most discussed and debated figures in modern Islamic intellectual history.