A Review of Alioune Bah’s Book: Rational Islam in the Thought of Souleymane Bachir Diagne

Abstract

This study engages Souleymane Bachir Diagne’s Rational Islam by moving beyond a mere summary to a critical exploration of its core ideas, particularly the relationship he constructs between reason and religion in the modern Islamic context. Using an analytical-deconstructive approach, it examines both the internal structure of the text and its philosophical underpinnings, while emphasizing its relevance to contemporary epistemological debates. The reading unfolds in three stages: an introduction situating the problem historically and intellectually; a detailed presentation that traces Diagne’s use of concepts such as rationality, freedom, pluralism, and ijtihad, and their intersections with Islamic tradition and modern philosophy; and a conclusion that draws out the theoretical and practical implications of his project. Ultimately, the research finds the book to be a daring effort to reframe Islam within a rational paradigm responsive to modern challenges and capable of critically reconstructing religious meaning, though it acknowledges certain limitations and calls for further philosophical reflection on the promise of rational Islam today.