The Birth of the Concept of “Islamic Civilisation” and Comparison of “Islamic-European Civilisations” in Şemseddin Sami

Saniye Vatandaş; Celalettin Vatandaş

Makale detayları

The Birth of the Concept of “Islamic Civilisation” and Comparison of “Islamic-European Civilisations” in Şemseddin Sami

Yazarlar:

Saniye Vatandaş | Celalettin Vatandaş

Yayıncı:

Tekirdag Namik Kemal University

Ana Başlıklar:

Spesifik Alanların Tarihi (Diğer) | Dini Gelenek Çalışmaları (Doğu | Yahudi | Hristiyan ve İslami Gelenekler Hariç)

Dergi:

Tasavvur / Tekirdağ İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.9 Issue 2, pp.1437-1464

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

12/2023

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001306875

pISSN:

2619-9130

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 The word civilisation, coined by French intellectuals in the middle of the 18th century, was soon adopted by other European societies. This name meant that they were different and superior to all other societies. Ottoman bureaucrats and writers translated the word civilisation into Turkish as medeniyet. However, medeniyet, one of the important concepts of the Islamic tradition, was far from expressing the mentality and lifestyle meant by civilisation. The concept of civilisation was specific to Europe under the existing conditions and expressed the understanding that Europe was unique and superior. At the same time, it represented an understanding that legitimized the invasion and exploitation of non-European countries by some European states, particularly Britain and France. In order to reduce the reactions of the societies that were the victims of their occupation and exploitation and to idealize being European, Europeans claimed that there were other civilisations in history. The concept of Islamic civilisation was born under these circumstances. Şemseddin Sami, who wrote the first book entitled Islamic civilisation in 1879, defended the thesis that Muslims had a civilisation in history and that this civilisation had contributed to the formation of the European one. However, after a while, he significantly changed his view and argued that Islamic civilisation was completely lost in history and that European civilisation was the only and the most superior civilisation in the present world. This study aims to examine the conceptualization process of the word civilisation and especially Şemseddin Samis comparison of civilisations in the context of this process. The subject will be examined with reference to the written texts of the period and current studies on civilisation.

 The word civilisation, coined by French intellectuals in the middle of the 18th century, was soon adopted by other European societies. This name meant that they were different and superior to all other societies. Ottoman bureaucrats and writers translated the word civilisation into Turkish as medeniyet. However, medeniyet, one of the important concepts of the Islamic tradition, was far from expressing the mentality and lifestyle meant by civilisation. The concept of civilisation was specific to Europe under the existing conditions and expressed the understanding that Europe was unique and superior. At the same time, it represented an understanding that legitimized the invasion and exploitation of non-European countries by some European states, particularly Britain and France. In order to reduce the reactions of the societies that were the victims of their occupation and exploitation and to idealize being European, Europeans claimed that there were other civilisations in history. The concept of Islamic civilisation was born under these circumstances. Şemseddin Sami, who wrote the first book entitled Islamic civilisation in 1879, defended the thesis that Muslims had a civilisation in history and that this civilisation had contributed to the formation of the European one. However, after a while, he significantly changed his view and argued that Islamic civilisation was completely lost in history and that European civilisation was the only and the most superior civilisation in the present world. This study aims to examine the conceptualization process of the word civilisation and especially Şemseddin Samis comparison of civilisations in the context of this process. The subject will be examined with reference to the written texts of the period and current studies on civilisation.

 The word civilisation, coined by French intellectuals in the middle of the 18th century, was soon adopted by other European societies. This name meant that they were different and superior to all other societies. Ottoman bureaucrats and writers translated the word civilisation into Turkish as medeniyet. However, medeniyet, one of the important concepts of the Islamic tradition, was far from expressing the mentality and lifestyle meant by civilisation. The concept of civilisation was specific to Europe under the existing conditions and expressed the understanding that Europe was unique and superior. At the same time, it represented an understanding that legitimized the invasion and exploitation of non-European countries by some European states, particularly Britain and France. In order to reduce the reactions of the societies that were the victims of their occupation and exploitation and to idealize being European, Europeans claimed that there were other civilisations in history. The concept of Islamic civilisation was born under these circumstances. Şemseddin Sami, who wrote the first book entitled Islamic civilisation in 1879, defended the thesis that Muslims had a civilisation in history and that this civilisation had contributed to the formation of the European one. However, after a while, he significantly changed his view and argued that Islamic civilisation was completely lost in history and that European civilisation was the only and the most superior civilisation in the present world. This study aims to examine the conceptualization process of the word civilisation and especially Şemseddin Samis comparison of civilisations in the context of this process. The subject will be examined with reference to the written texts of the period and current studies on civilisation.

 Fransız aydınlarının, 18. yüzyılın ortalarında icat edip, kendilerine isim olarak seçtikleri civilisation kelimesi kısa sürede diğer Avrupa toplumları tarafından da benimsendi. Bu isim onların tüm diğer toplumlardan farklı ve üstün oldukları anlamını ifade ediyordu. Osmanlı bürokrat ve yazarları civilisation kelimesini medeniyet olarak Türkçeleştirdiler. Halbuki İslami geleneğin önemli kavramlarından birisi olan medeniyet, civilisation ile kastedilen zihniyet ve hayat tarzını ifade etmekten çok uzaktı. Civilisation anlayışı mevcut şartlarda Avrupaya özgü olup, Avrupanın biricik ve üstün olduğu anlayışını ifade ediyordu. Aynı zamanda başta İngiltere ve Fransa olmak üzere bazı Avrupa devletlerinin, Avrupa dışı ülkeleri işgal etmelerini ve sömürmelerini meşrulaştıran bir anlayışı temsil ediyordu. Avrupalılar, işgal ve sömürülerinin mağduru olan toplumlardaki tepkileri azaltmak ve Avrupaî olmayı idealize etmek için tarihte başka medeniyetlerin de mevcut olduğunu dillendirdiler. İslam medeniyeti kavramı bu şartlarda doğdu. İslam medeniyeti isimli ilk kitabı 1879da yazan Şemseddin Sami, tarihte Müslümanların medeniyet sahibi olduklarını ve bu medeniyetin Avrupadakinin oluşumuna katkı sağladığı tezini savundu. Fakat bir süre sonra bu görüşünde önemli oranda değişikliğe giderek İslam medeniyetinin tamamıyla tarihte kaldığını, Avrupa medeniyetinin ise mevcut dünyada tek ve en üstün medeniyet olduğunu savundu. Bu araştırma medeniyet kelimesinin kavramlaşma sürecini ve özellikle de Şemseddin Saminin medeniyetler karşılaştırmasını söz konusu süreç ekseninde ele alma amacındadır. Dönemin yazılı metinlerinden ve civilisationa ilişkin güncel çalışmalardan hareketle konu incelenecektir.

Makale detayları

The Birth of the Concept of “Islamic Civilisation” and Comparison of “Islamic-European Civilisations” in Şemseddin Sami

Yazarlar:

Saniye Vatandaş | Celalettin Vatandaş

Yayıncı:

Tekirdag Namik Kemal University

Ana Başlıklar:

Spesifik Alanların Tarihi (Diğer) | Dini Gelenek Çalışmaları (Doğu | Yahudi | Hristiyan ve İslami Gelenekler Hariç)

Dergi:

Tasavvur / Tekirdağ İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.9 Issue 2, pp.1437-1464

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

12/2023

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001306875

pISSN:

2619-9130

Enlightenment

Civilisation

Madaniyyah

Islamic Civilisation

Şemseddin SamiAydınlanma

Civilisation

Medeniyet

İslam Medeniyeti

Şemseddin Sami

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Saniye Vatandaş | Celalettin Vatandaş

Yayıncı: Tekirdag Namik Kemal University

Ana Başlıklar: Spesifik Alanların Tarihi (Diğer) | Dini Gelenek Çalışmaları (Doğu | Yahudi | Hristiyan ve İslami Gelenekler Hariç)

Dergi: Tasavvur / Tekirdağ İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.9 Issue 2, pp.1437-1464

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 12/2023

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001306875

pISSN: 2619-9130

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Saniye Vatandaş | Celalettin Vatandaş

Yayıncı:

Tekirdag Namik Kemal University

Ana Başlıklar:

Spesifik Alanların Tarihi (Diğer) | Dini Gelenek Çalışmaları (Doğu | Yahudi | Hristiyan ve İslami Gelenekler Hariç)

Dergi:

Tasavvur / Tekirdağ İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.9 Issue 2, pp.1437-1464

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

12/2023

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001306875

pISSN:

2619-9130