The ‘Ulama and Islamic Renaissance in Algeria

Abstract

Introduction
This work is concerned primarily with the activities of the Algerian ‘Ulama
in the social and religious field. The most organized activities of Islamic
reformism in Algeria started in 1931 with the establishment of the Association
of the Algerian ‘Ulama. The ‘Ulama declared the ultimate goal of their
Association to be only religious and cultural. The subsequent Islamic
renaissance which they instituted in Algeria concentrated on the independence
of the Muslim Creed, and social and cultural revivalism. The objective was
to reform the practice of Islamic religion along the lines of the Islam of Suhjiyuh
and not the Islam of Sufi sects. This was pursued by attacking the negative
aspects of a1 vzwiiyuh (Sufi centers) and by encouraging the spread of al
tu‘lim al hurr (the ‘Ulama type of education).
The most significant role of al buthal dini (religious reformism) was
that it ventured to prepare the Algerian masses for the violent conflict with
France. Had it not been for this movement, the Algerian masses would have
remained under the influence of the saints whose followers supported and
consolidated the French colonial administration. In the following pages, the
question will be posed as to how the liberation of Algeria was facilitated
by the Algerian religious renaissance, which managed to liberate the consciousness
of the masses. As a result, the Algerian masses were prepared
morally and psychologically for political liberation from France.
The Origins of Islamic Renaissance In Algeria
The origins of the Islamic renaissance in Algeria were directly linked
to the Suluflyuh movement, which flourished in ul Mushriq al Arubi during ...