Ways to revive Islam’s role in the contemporary world according to Mohammed Talbi

Abstract

Muhammad al-Talbi’s study seeks to reform Islamic thought in response to the scientific, social, and political challenges of the modern world. Al-Talbi strongly criticizes intellectual stagnation and the official rejection within Islam of any reconciliation between religion, reason, and science. He argues that rigid adherence to outdated and unrenewed jurisprudential traditions creates a growing disconnect with a rapidly changing world, thereby reinforcing perceptions of Islam as backward, despite its profound spiritual richness. Al-Talbi calls for a renewed and dynamic reading of the Qur’an grounded in higher objectives (maqāṣid) and universal human values such as freedom, justice, and dignity. He emphasizes the importance of embracing religious and cultural pluralism as a source of enrichment that fosters peace and dialogue among civilizations. His vision adopts a progressive, modern, and liberal approach, constituting a clear call for spiritual and intellectual renewal within Islam in order to confront contemporary challenges through a rational and comprehensive humanistic framework.