The Unorthodox Founder of Arab Nationalism: Jurji Zaydan and His Christian Roots
Why did the originators of Arab nationalist ideologies come from Christian Arab backgrounds? This article explores the life and works of Jurji Zaydan, the so-called founding father of Arabism, who paradoxically hails from a Christian family background.
The Formation of Arab Nationalism
Contrary to popular belief, Arab nationalism was not primarily born in the peninsular Gulf but in countries like Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, and Iraq. On the other hand, the original Arab/Bedouins are often seen serving the Israeli army, IDF, which starkly contrasts with the ideals of Arab nationalism.
Contact with Europe and Eager Receptivity to European Ideas
Jurji Zaydan's education and worldview were deeply influenced by his contact with Europe. Born in 1861 in Beirut, Zaydan's family background was modestly middle-class. Despite his devout Christian upbringing, he was drawn to the secular and intellectual ideas from Europe.
Educational Background and Early Influences
Zaydan received his early education at a Greek Orthodox Church and completed his basic education. His mother and father played a crucial role in persuading him to finish his education. He later attended the Syrian Protestant College (now the American University of Beirut), where he was exposed to American literature and ideas, shaping his worldview and passion for Arab history and Ottoman politics.
The Founding Father of Arabism
Although Zaydan was a Christian doctor, his true passion lay in Arab history and Ottoman politics. His work, including historical novels, newspaper articles, and political essays, quickly gained him a following among urban Middle Eastern middle classes of all faiths.
Motivations and Ideals Behind Arabism
Zaydan's ideas were rooted in the desire to secularize the Arab identity. He believed that language, rather than religion, could unite Arabs across diverse backgrounds. This belief was influenced by Western history studies, as well as the unity of diverse ethnic backgrounds under a common language, like English.
"The Romans spread their language Latin in their Western Empire in Southern Europe. The people there took pride in their Roman relations because they spoke Latin." - Jurji Zaydan
Zaydan argued that a dominant language was key to defining cultural identity. His secularist approach to Arabism significantly impacted Arab Christians, making it more palatable to them. He challenged the sacredness of the Arabic language, asserting that it was not uniquely tied to Islam, which made his ideas more inclusive.
Secularization of the Arab Identity
Zaydan's work is particularly noted for secularizing the Arab identity, a concept that was not unique to him but was deeply rooted in his educational and cultural context. He argued that the prestige of the Arabic language was not exclusive to Islam but could be a symbol of a nation, much like other nations.
"We all learn and speak the language into which we are born the social environment determining whether we speak Arabic or Greek and that—apart from its evolutionary stage and its benefits as a community of usefulness—there was no inherently greater value in speaking one language over any other." - Jurji Zaydan
By redefining terms used exclusively for Islam and promoting the idea that Arab identity did not equate to Muslim identity, Zaydan opened the door for Arabism to be accepted by Arab Christians. This was especially significant because in the Arab world at the time, Arab often meant Muslim.
Impact and Controversy
Zaydan's controversial yet influential ideas had a profound impact on a generation of urban Arabs. His work was either deeply loved or intensely disliked. For conservative Arab Muslims, he was seen as a bigoted and ignorant Christian, while for Arab nationalists, he was a political genius.
Zaydan remained an enigmatic figure, either deeply loved or intensely hated, but his ideas and works undoubtedly shaped a significant portion of the Arab nationalist ideology that followed.
In conclusion, Jurji Zaydan, a Christian doctor, became the founding father of Arab nationalism through his open embrace of European and Christian ideas, which were anything but the focus of traditional Arab nationalist movements.