Al-Afghani: Is He an Atheist?

Abstract

This article critically reassesses Jamal Al-Din Al-Afghani’s religious and intellectual position, challenging interpretations that portray him as an atheist or skeptic, especially in relation to his famous response to Ernest Renan’s 1883 lecture Islam and Science. It highlights the tension between that response and Al-Afghani’s broader writings, such as Refutation of the Materialists and his contributions to Al-Urwa al-Wuthqa, which consistently affirm Islam as the foundation of his thought. Through analysis of his views on religion and reason, human nature, society, history, predestination, morality, honor, fanaticism, unity, and sovereignty, the article underscores the centrality of Islam in his political and social project, framing it as the basis for Muslim solidarity and resistance to European colonialism. Ultimately, it rejects claims of hidden atheism, arguing that Al-Afghani’s discourse to Renan must be read in its strategic political context, and that his overall intellectual legacy presents Islam as a comprehensive framework integrating faith, politics, and social power.