'Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulusi: Islam and the Enlightenment

In this unique look at a key figure in the Islamic enlightenment, Samer Akkach examines the life and works of ‘Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulusi of Damascus. This series is devoted to the men and women throughout history who have made a significant contribution to the political, intellectual and religious landscape of the Muslim world. Each title combines first-rate scholarship with a strong emphasis on readability, and will serve as a perfect introduction for general readers and academics alike. ‘Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulusi (1641-1731) of Damascus was a key figure of the Islamic enlightenment. Often characterized solely as a Sufi saint, his thought and teachings were of a much wider remit. A contemporary of many major thinkers, scientists, poets, and philosophers of the European Enlightenment, his life and works offer a new perspective on the roots of modernity in the Arab world. Through a fresh reading of his biographical sources and large body of mostly unpublished works, Akkach examines al-Nabulusi’s life and thought, exploring his contribution to the intellectual development of Islam and to the debate over its relationship with science. An unrivalled biography of a key figure in the history of Islam, this fascinating book also offers an invaluable comparison of how rationalism operated in Enlightenment Europe and the Islamic world. Samer Akkach is Associate Professor in Architecture, History, and Theory, and Founding Director of the Centre for Asian and Middle Eastern Architecture (CAMEA) at the University of Adelaide, Australia. He is the author of Cosmology and Architecture in Premodern Islam.