The Possibility of Reproducing Islamic Knowledge in Confrontation with the Ideological Structure of the West:
An Examination of the Implicit Critique of Orientalism in the Thought of Morteza Motahhari
The issue of the reproduction of knowledge in the contemporary world—particularly in confrontation with Western ideological structures—constitutes one of the central challenges in the humanities and cultural studies. Orientalism, as a power-driven discourse claiming scientific objectivity, has selectively and disparagingly represented the East, placing knowledge in the service of cultural domination. The purpose of this article is to examine the possibility of an implicit critique, within Morteza Motahhari’s thought, of the epistemological and ideological foundations of Western Orientalism, and to evaluate its potential for reproducing Islamic knowledge in the modern world. The study employs a method of conceptual analysis and textual examination of Motahhari’s key works (including The Principles of Philosophy and the Method of Realism, Revival of Islamic Thought, Islam and the Requirements of the Time, Fitrah, and the collection An Introduction to the Islamic Worldview), while also comparing them with Said’s theory. The findings indicate that within Motahhari’s thought, one can identify elements that may be interpreted as an implicit critique of Western ideological reductionism. This critique, to a considerable extent, conflicts with the mechanisms of Orientalism, yet it simultaneously opens the possibility for a constructive engagement with Western epistemic challenges. The results of the study suggest that Motahhari’s thought possesses the capacity to be reread within the framework of postcolonial studies and can serve as a meaningful resource for rethinking Islamic epistemic discourse in the contemporary world—without leading to absolute othering of the West.
Hajizadeh Dowlatabad, A. (2025). The Possibility of Reproducing Islamic Knowledge in Confrontation with the Ideological Structure of the West:
An Examination of the Implicit Critique of Orientalism in the Thought of Morteza Motahhari. 12- Studies Religion Muslems, 11(22), 61-84. doi: 0009-0002-6145-8982
MLA
Hajizadeh Dowlatabad, A. . "The Possibility of Reproducing Islamic Knowledge in Confrontation with the Ideological Structure of the West:
An Examination of the Implicit Critique of Orientalism in the Thought of Morteza Motahhari", 12- Studies Religion Muslems, 11, 22, 2025, 61-84. doi: 0009-0002-6145-8982
HARVARD
Hajizadeh Dowlatabad, A. (2025). 'The Possibility of Reproducing Islamic Knowledge in Confrontation with the Ideological Structure of the West:
An Examination of the Implicit Critique of Orientalism in the Thought of Morteza Motahhari', 12- Studies Religion Muslems, 11(22), pp. 61-84. doi: 0009-0002-6145-8982
CHICAGO
A. Hajizadeh Dowlatabad, "The Possibility of Reproducing Islamic Knowledge in Confrontation with the Ideological Structure of the West:
An Examination of the Implicit Critique of Orientalism in the Thought of Morteza Motahhari," 12- Studies Religion Muslems, 11 22 (2025): 61-84, doi: 0009-0002-6145-8982
VANCOUVER
Hajizadeh Dowlatabad, A. The Possibility of Reproducing Islamic Knowledge in Confrontation with the Ideological Structure of the West:
An Examination of the Implicit Critique of Orientalism in the Thought of Morteza Motahhari. 12- Studies Religion Muslems, 2025; 11(22): 61-84. doi: 0009-0002-6145-8982
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