Muhammad Abduh

Muhammad Abduh (1849–1905) was an Egyptian Islamic modernist scholar and reformer who, alongside figures like Muhammad Rashid Rida, promoted reinterpretations of Islamic doctrine including the view that jihad is primarily defensive warfare legitimate in resisting colonial conquest.

Claims that use this term

• By the end of the 19th century, Khan’s interpretation of jihad as defensive warfare became popular in the Middle East, especially in Egypt. This was due to the adoption of this ideal by Muhammad Abduh and Muhammad Rashid Rida, two other modernist scholars of Islam. Where they differed from Khan is their extension of the legitimacy of jihad to cases of a foreign invader into Islamic territory for political and economic reasons. They believed that, in such cases, the doctrine of jihad could be invoked in order to resist colonial conquest. Rashid Rida, in particular, saw all rules of fighting mentioned in the Qur’an as rules intended for defending Muslims against enemies who fight them because of their religion.
• Egyptian reformer Muhammad Abduh personally corresponded with Gustave Le Bon