A common concern between Islamic modernists and those living in Muslim societies during the late 19th century was: how far the cultural renaissance can progress and how many of their traditions will be sweep away with it? Charles Kurzman notes a modernist Islamic scholar in his Modernist Islam who says: “The truth is that among Muslim nations today, only Turkey has shaken off its dogmatic slumber and achieved self-awareness. She alone has claimed her right to intellectual freedom." Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Similar to Amin, this author is of the opinion that this awakening of intellectual thought, the questioning of tradition, is what allows for progression into the new century and the opportunity to be considered Europe's equal in terms of development and progress. Amin assures his readers that there are differences in the cultures and mannerisms of French, American, German, and Russian women, but their similarity lies in their independence. This idea of ​​being comparable to the West, while remaining fundamentally different, was central to the modernist thought of the time. Amin promotes a cultural awakening, which stimulates debate on the liberation of Islamic women, but which remains faithful to the principles of Islam. Modernity offered new ways of interpreting Islam and perhaps influencing underlying traditions that he believed were uncivilized and barbaric. He used this distinction to note the differences between the barbaric tribes of the Americas and Africa, in contrast to the more enlightened societies of Europe; his goal was to influence Muslims in Egypt to follow the European example in the treatment of women. This was prominently highlighted by modernists according to both Kurzman and Makdisi, where racial distinction and separation compared “stages of their social evolution”. However, from quotes from Amin's contemporaries, who considered his ideas “a crime against the homeland and against religion,” we can assume that this particular blend of modernist Islam was not universally accepted at that time. It is clear that the difference in thought among the modernists of this time was crucial to understanding the movement as a whole. While many conservatives agreed that modernists went too far and violated the traditional view of Islam, many modernists themselves could not agree on the extent of reform or revision of long-standing traditions and customs. Many, like Amin, advocated using the Quran as the basis for their reforms and instead found problems with the traditions underlying the religion. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get Custom Essay Amin's calls for women's education and emancipation, as seen in Western countries, show an admiration for this culture, but there is a desire to remain Islamic. Thanks to his long Western education, his time in Europe, and the people he interacted with there, he developed a Western-centered view that idolized Europe over Egyptian and Ottoman society. Western women's independence is not due to Christianity, as nothing in the Christian religion explicitly claims their rights, but is instead due to the proliferation of Western thought and ideas. Amin's essay highlights the degree of difference among modernist Islamic scholars and shows the level of inclination towards Western mores that some of these new modernists accepted and the parts they wanted to keep as..