Associate Professor, Department of History and Civilization of Islamic Nations, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22059/jhic.2024.384558.654530
Abstract
British rule over the Indian subcontinent, in addition to its political consequences, also left a deep impact on the social and scientific life of Muslims. Along with the British, Western cultural and civilizational influences also entered India. Among the Englishmen's contributions were new fields of knowledge that were different and sometimes conflicting with Muslim sciences and knowledge in terms of subject, method, and purpose. These sciences were widely introduced into India by statesmen, scientists, orientalists, and other European groups and influenced the Muslim educational tradition. From the beginning of the introduction of these sciences, differences and divisions arose among Muslim scholars about learning European languages and engaging with these new sciences. Many Muslim scholars, who were mainly Hadith scholars, opposed the learning of these languages and sciences and believed that these sciences were in conflict with religious teachings and would lead to the dominance of non-Muslims over Muslims. In the meantime, Shiites showed interest in these sciences for intellectual, ideological, and political reasons, and many of them began to learn European languages and acquire new knowledge. This article examines how Shiites encountered Western sciences, introduces some outstanding modern scientists, and studies the factors contributing to Shiite acceptance of Western languages and sciences.
Masoumi, M. (2025). Shiites and Educational Modernization in British India (From the mid-18th century to the partition of the Indian subcontinent). Iranian Journal for the History of Islamic Civilization, 57(1), 206-229. doi: 10.22059/jhic.2024.384558.654530
MLA
Masoumi, M. . "Shiites and Educational Modernization in British India (From the mid-18th century to the partition of the Indian subcontinent)", Iranian Journal for the History of Islamic Civilization, 57, 1, 2025, 206-229. doi: 10.22059/jhic.2024.384558.654530
HARVARD
Masoumi, M. (2025). 'Shiites and Educational Modernization in British India (From the mid-18th century to the partition of the Indian subcontinent)', Iranian Journal for the History of Islamic Civilization, 57(1), pp. 206-229. doi: 10.22059/jhic.2024.384558.654530
CHICAGO
M. Masoumi, "Shiites and Educational Modernization in British India (From the mid-18th century to the partition of the Indian subcontinent)," Iranian Journal for the History of Islamic Civilization, 57 1 (2025): 206-229, doi: 10.22059/jhic.2024.384558.654530
VANCOUVER
Masoumi, M. Shiites and Educational Modernization in British India (From the mid-18th century to the partition of the Indian subcontinent). Iranian Journal for the History of Islamic Civilization, 2025; 57(1): 206-229. doi: 10.22059/jhic.2024.384558.654530
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