An Orientalist Perspective on Arab Nationalism in Islamic History: Patricia Crone and her Method

Öznur Özdemir

Makale detayları

An Orientalist Perspective on Arab Nationalism in Islamic History: Patricia Crone and her Method

Yazarlar:

Öznur Özdemir

Yayıncı:

Bursa Uludağ University

Ana Başlıklar:

Dinler Tarihi

Dergi:

Oksident Vol.7 Issue 1, pp.41-57

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001349023

pISSN:

2687-2749

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 In Western academia, scholars who study Islamic history are generally called Islamic historians. However, non-Muslim researchers focusing on this field are often referred to as Orientalist Islamic historians, or simply as Orientalists. One of the main topics explored by these scholars has been the political context of Islams emergence and expansion. Yet, due to the influence of Eurocentric historiography, their findings have frequently been shaped by Orientalist perspectives. Patricia Crone 19452015, known for her revisionist approach, stands out as a prominent Orientalist Islamic historian. Her research, particularly on the mawālī and Arab nationalism in Islamic societies, has significantly influenced the field. Crones works and her critical methodology have sparked considerable academic debate, with her strong skepticism towards Islamic sources receiving particular criticism. While some studies have examined various aspects of Crones Orientalist views, there has not yet been a comprehensive study that specifically analyses her impact on Western Islamic studies, especially in relation to her views on Arab nationalism. This article aims to examine Patricia Crones academic career and works, evaluate her impact on Western Islamic studies, and analyze her methodology through an examination of one of her studies on Arab nationalism. This study, titled Mawālī and the Prophets Family: An Early Shīite View, is a translation and analysis of a letter attributed to Muawiya and addressed to Ziyād b. Abīhi. In the letter, Muawiya instructs Ziyād to treat the mawālī harshly. While making this suggestion, Muawiya refers to earlier policies toward non-Arabs. Crone interprets these references to demonstrate how and when Arab nationalist sentiments were articulated in Islamic society. This particular study has been chosen due to its close connection with the topic of the mawālī, which Crone specialized in during her doctoral studies, and because it represents one of her final publications prior to her death. In this part of the article, Crones evaluation of Arab nationalism in Islamic society will be discussed, with a specific focus on her interpretation of the expressions found in the letter. Finally, the article will examine Crones methodological approach to Islamic historical sources by analysing both her views in similar studies, and the criticisms directed at her by other historians. In doing so, it aims to introduce a prominent scholar known in the West for her distinctive views on Islamic history to researchers in this field, and to provide a critical evaluation of her perspectives and methodology.

 In Western academia, scholars who study Islamic history are generally called Islamic historians. However, non-Muslim researchers focusing on this field are often referred to as Orientalist Islamic historians, or simply as Orientalists. One of the main topics explored by these scholars has been the political context of Islams emergence and expansion. Yet, due to the influence of Eurocentric historiography, their findings have frequently been shaped by Orientalist perspectives. Patricia Crone 19452015, known for her revisionist approach, stands out as a prominent Orientalist Islamic historian. Her research, particularly on the mawālī and Arab nationalism in Islamic societies, has significantly influenced the field. Crones works and her critical methodology have sparked considerable academic debate, with her strong skepticism towards Islamic sources receiving particular criticism. While some studies have examined various aspects of Crones Orientalist views, there has not yet been a comprehensive study that specifically analyses her impact on Western Islamic studies, especially in relation to her views on Arab nationalism. This article aims to examine Patricia Crones academic career and works, evaluate her impact on Western Islamic studies, and analyze her methodology through an examination of one of her studies on Arab nationalism. This study, titled Mawālī and the Prophets Family: An Early Shīite View, is a translation and analysis of a letter attributed to Muawiya and addressed to Ziyād b. Abīhi. In the letter, Muawiya instructs Ziyād to treat the mawālī harshly. While making this suggestion, Muawiya refers to earlier policies toward non-Arabs. Crone interprets these references to demonstrate how and when Arab nationalist sentiments were articulated in Islamic society. This particular study has been chosen due to its close connection with the topic of the mawālī, which Crone specialized in during her doctoral studies, and because it represents one of her final publications prior to her death. In this part of the article, Crones evaluation of Arab nationalism in Islamic society will be discussed, with a specific focus on her interpretation of the expressions found in the letter. Finally, the article will examine Crones methodological approach to Islamic historical sources by analysing both her views in similar studies, and the criticisms directed at her by other historians. In doing so, it aims to introduce a prominent scholar known in the West for her distinctive views on Islamic history to researchers in this field, and to provide a critical evaluation of her perspectives and methodology.

 In Western academia, scholars who study Islamic history are generally called Islamic historians. However, non-Muslim researchers focusing on this field are often referred to as Orientalist Islamic historians, or simply as Orientalists. One of the main topics explored by these scholars has been the political context of Islams emergence and expansion. Yet, due to the influence of Eurocentric historiography, their findings have frequently been shaped by Orientalist perspectives. Patricia Crone 19452015, known for her revisionist approach, stands out as a prominent Orientalist Islamic historian. Her research, particularly on the mawālī and Arab nationalism in Islamic societies, has significantly influenced the field. Crones works and her critical methodology have sparked considerable academic debate, with her strong skepticism towards Islamic sources receiving particular criticism. While some studies have examined various aspects of Crones Orientalist views, there has not yet been a comprehensive study that specifically analyses her impact on Western Islamic studies, especially in relation to her views on Arab nationalism. This article aims to examine Patricia Crones academic career and works, evaluate her impact on Western Islamic studies, and analyze her methodology through an examination of one of her studies on Arab nationalism. This study, titled Mawālī and the Prophets Family: An Early Shīite View, is a translation and analysis of a letter attributed to Muawiya and addressed to Ziyād b. Abīhi. In the letter, Muawiya instructs Ziyād to treat the mawālī harshly. While making this suggestion, Muawiya refers to earlier policies toward non-Arabs. Crone interprets these references to demonstrate how and when Arab nationalist sentiments were articulated in Islamic society. This particular study has been chosen due to its close connection with the topic of the mawālī, which Crone specialized in during her doctoral studies, and because it represents one of her final publications prior to her death. In this part of the article, Crones evaluation of Arab nationalism in Islamic society will be discussed, with a specific focus on her interpretation of the expressions found in the letter. Finally, the article will examine Crones methodological approach to Islamic historical sources by analysing both her views in similar studies, and the criticisms directed at her by other historians. In doing so, it aims to introduce a prominent scholar known in the West for her distinctive views on Islamic history to researchers in this field, and to provide a critical evaluation of her perspectives and methodology.

 Batıda İslam tarihi üzerine çalışanlar genellikle İslam tarihçisi olarak anılmakla birlikte, Müslüman olmayan ve İslam tarihini araştırma konusu olarak seçenler oryantalist İslam tarihçileri veya kısaca oryantalistmüsteşrik olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Bu tarihçiler tarafından geniş biçimde incelenen alanlardan biri de İslamın ortaya çıkışı ve yayılışı dönemindeki politikalar olmuştur. Ancak Avrupa merkezli tarih yazımı sebebiyle bulgular çoğunlukla oryantalist bir perspektiften süzülerek aktarılmıştır. Revizyonist fikirleriyle tanınan Patricia Crone 1945-2015, İslam toplumunda mevâlî ve Arap milliyetçiliği alanında yaptığı pek çok çalışma nedeniyle batıda önde gelen bir oryantalist İslam tarihçisi olarak dikkat çekmektedir. Eserleri ve benimsediği yöntem, bu alandaki araştırmacılar arasında geniş çapta akademik tartışmalara konu olmuş; özellikle İslam kaynaklarına karşı sergilediği aşırı şüpheci tutum eleştirilmiştir. Croneun oryantalist bakış açılarını farklı yönleriyle ele alan bazı çalışmalar mevcut olmakla birlikte, onun Batıdaki İslam araştırmalarına etkisini özellikle Arap milliyetçiliğine ilişkin görüşleri çerçevesinde inceleyen özel bir çalışma bugüne kadar yapılmamıştır. Nitekim Crone, Batılı İslam tarihçileri arasında yaygın olan ana akım yaklaşımların aksine, İslamı ve temel kaynaklarını kurgusal ve uydurulmuş unsurlar olarak değerlendirmiştir. Bu nedenle yalnızca Müslüman İslam tarihçileri tarafından değil, Batılı meslektaşları tarafından da eleştirilerin hedefi olmuştur. Bu makalede, Croneun Batıdaki İslam araştırmalarına etkisi akademik kariyeri ve eserleri bağlamında ele alınacak, ayrıca Arap milliyetçiliği üzerine yaptığı bir çalışma değerlendirilerek metodolojisi ortaya konulacaktır. Mawālī and the Prophets Family: An Early Shīite View adlı bu çalışma, Muâviyenin Ziyâd b. Ebîhe yazdığı iddia edilen bir mektubun çevirisi ve değerlendirmesidir. Mektupta Muâviye, Ziyâddan mevâlîye kötü muamelede bulunmasını istemektedir. Bu telkini yaparken Muâviyenin gayri Araplarla ilgili geçmiş dönemlerdeki politikalara yer verdiği görülmektedir. Crone da bu detayları yorumlayarak İslam toplumunda Arap milliyetçiliğinin nasıl ve hangi dönemlerde yapıldığını göstermeye çalışmıştır. Bu çalışmanın tercih edilmesinin sebebi, hem Croneun doktora eğitimi sırasında uzmanlaştığı mevâlî konusuyla ilişkili olması hem de vefatından önce yayımladığı son eserlerinden biri olmasıdır. Makalede Croneun mektupta yer alan ifadeler üzerinden İslam toplumunda Arap milliyetçiliği sorununu nasıl değerlendirdiği tartışılacaktır. Son olarak onun İslam tarihi kaynaklarına bakış açısını ve metodunu anlamak üzere benzer çalışmalarındaki görüşleri ve başka tarihçilerin onun hakkındaki eleştirilerine yer verilecektir. Böylece Batıda İslam tarihi hakkında dikkat çekici görüşleri ile öne çıkan bir isim, bu alanda çalışma yapanlara tanıtılarak görüşleri ve metodu kritik edilmiş olacaktır.

Makale detayları

An Orientalist Perspective on Arab Nationalism in Islamic History: Patricia Crone and her Method

Yazarlar:

Öznur Özdemir

Yayıncı:

Bursa Uludağ University

Ana Başlıklar:

Dinler Tarihi

Dergi:

Oksident Vol.7 Issue 1, pp.41-57

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001349023

pISSN:

2687-2749

Islamic History

Orientalism

Patrica Crone

Mawali

Arab Nationalism.İslam Tarihi

Oryantalizm

Patricia Crone

Mevâlî

Arap Milliyetçiliği

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Öznur Özdemir

Yayıncı: Bursa Uludağ University

Ana Başlıklar: Dinler Tarihi

Dergi: Oksident Vol.7 Issue 1, pp.41-57

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 6/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001349023

pISSN: 2687-2749

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Öznur Özdemir

Yayıncı:

Bursa Uludağ University

Ana Başlıklar:

Dinler Tarihi

Dergi:

Oksident Vol.7 Issue 1, pp.41-57

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001349023

pISSN:

2687-2749