Early colonial rule instrumentally praised Islam rather than demonizing it

Evidence

Other than the obvious fabrications about the French being Muslims and destroying the papacy, what is noteworthy about this manifesto is its attempt to win over Egyptians through praise for Islam. Napoleon repeatedly insisted that he was fighting for Islam; the demonization of Islam was not yet part of the repertoire. Unlike Cromer, who stated one century later that the system of “Islam” was responsible for the supposed inferiority of the Egyptians, Napoleon would not disparage Islam. Instead, he harnessed his knowledge of the religion to aid the colonial mission. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 157

Unlike Cromer, who stated one century later that the system of “Islam” was responsible for the supposed inferiority of the Egyptians, Napoleon would not disparage Islam. Instead, he harnessed his knowledge of the religion to aid the colonial mission. … This strategy worked, Said argues, and the people of Cairo lost their distrust of the French colonizers. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 169

Categorization

• QUESTION: When exactly did the shift from courting Islam to demonizing it happen, and what drove it?
• XREF: Complicates the assumption that orientalism was always about contempt; dialogues with Said but also with the timing arguments in the Islamophobia cluster. — connects to: Napoleon co-opted Islam to win over Egyptians rather than demonizing it — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of…, 157; Colonial powers sought to control rather than eradicate Islam — Chris Allen, Islamophobia, 191; Colonial administration made Muslim religious leaders instruments of imperial rule (+4 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of…, 157; Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of…, 169

Broader Connections

• Colonial powers sought to control rather than eradicate Islam #corroborates (0.95) — Chris Allen, Islamophobia, 191
• Colonial administration made Muslim religious leaders instruments of imperial rule #exemplifies (0.90)
• Scholars have treated colonial sentiment as ornament rather than substance of rule #corroborates (0.80)
• The Western image of Muslims dehumanizes them to enable colonial rule #complicates (0.75) — Sophia Rose Arjana, Muslims in the Western Imagination, 44