Religion, Orientalism, and Modernity: Mahdi Movements of Iran and South Asia (Geoffrey Nash)

Abstract

The discourse on contemporary Islamic studies is undergoing an important paradigm shift, in which Eurocentric narratives that have dominated the field for centuries are being challenged and reconstructed. This process of decolonizing knowledge involves not only a critique of Edward Said's classical orientalism but also an active effort to restore subjectivity and agency to Muslim communities in interpreting and developing their own religious traditions. In this context, Nash's work provides a valuable perspective on how religious groups in the Muslim world have not simply been passive objects of Western influence, but also active agents who respond to, adapt, and even utilize orientalist discourse for their benefit. Modernism in Muslim-majority regions such as Iran and South Asia has different characteristics from Western narratives of modernity. The Mahdi movements studied by Nash show how modernity is interpreted and negotiated differently in local contexts, creating a unique synthesis between religious tradition and the demands of modern times. In addition, decolonization efforts in contemporary Islamic studies seek to uncover and appreciate these varied experiences of modernity, rejecting the idea that there is only one single path to progress.