A METATHEORETICAL STUDY OF

MALEK BENNABI'S APPROACH TO CIVILIZATION

BY
BADRANE BENLAHCENE

Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, in

Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

September 2004
 DEDICATION

To my affectionate father and mother; Mesaoud and Samtah, my loving wife Dr.
Farida and my children Ayub, Kawthar and Sakinah, I dedicate this work.

ii
Abstract of thesis presented to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia in fulfillment
of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

A METATHEORETICAL STUDY OF
MALEK BENNABI’S APPROACH TO CIVILIZATION

By

BADRANE BENLAHCENE

September 2004

Chairman: Zaid Ahmad, Ph.D.

Faculty: Human Ecology

This study investigates Malek Bennabi's approach to civilization and aims at

analyzing the various factors contributed to the formulation and development of

Bennabi's approach by using metatheorizing methodology (Mu) through its four

dimensions. It goes beyond available literature on Bennabi, to not only present his

approach, but to understand its underlying structure.

The researcher, by using (Mu), realized that civilization is a multi-aspects concept

and it had been dominated by the paradigms of philosophy of history and social

sciences, on the one hand. On the other hand, it is found that Bennabi's

interdisciplinary approach to civilization in its two parts; the major concepts and the

interpretation of the movement of civilization, is a result of the internal-external and

the social–intellectual factors which formed the context of his approach.

The internal-social factors as his background (family, religion and education) and his

intellectual pursuits (activities and intellectual connections), on one hand, and the

external-social factors as the colonization and decolonization processes on the other

hand, formed the social structure of Bennabi's approach.

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Moreover, the internal-intellectual factors as the dominant paradigms and schools

within civilization studies, on the one hand, and the external-intellectual factors as

the impacts of the Qur'an and Sunna, the reformist thought in the Muslim world,

psychology, philosophy and the modernity discourse, the natural sciences and

mathematics, on the other hand formed the intellectual or the cognitive structure of

his approach.

The researcher found that by applying (Mu) in this study, he could go beyond mere

presenting Bennabi's approach, and could gain an in-depth understanding of

Bennabi's interdisciplinary approach to civilization and its underlying structure.

In addition, (Mu) offered a methodological tools to understanding Bennabi's

approach to civilization, and could provide a potential methodology to study the

formulation and development of ideas, approaches and theories, because of (Mu)'s

comprehensiveness in integrating the tools of philosophy of science, history of ideas

and sociology of knowledge in one methodology which is metatheorizing.

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 Abstrak tesis yang dikemukakan kepada Senat Universiti Putra Malaysia
Sebagai memenuhi keperluan untuk ijazah Doktor Falsafah

KAJIAN METATHEORETICAL UNTUK

PENDEKATAN MALEK BENNABI TENTANG KETAMADDUNAN

Oleh

BADRANE BENLAHCENE

Mac 2004

Pengerusi: Zaid Ahmad, Ph.D.

Fakulti: Ekologi Manusia

Tujuan tesis ini adalah untuk mengkaji faktor-faktor yang membantu

mengembangkan pendekatan Bennabi berdasarkan metododologi ‘metatheorizing’

(Mu) melalui empat dimensi yang digunakan. Kajian ini melampaui sorotan literatur

sedia ada mengenai Bennabi, dengan bukan sahaja membentangkan hasil pendekatan

beliau dan sekaligus memahami struktur asas pemikiran beliau.

Berdasarkan pendekatan (Mu), penyelidik mendapati bahawa tamadun adalah satu

konsep yang meliputi berbagai aspek dan telah didominasi oleh paradigma falsafah

yang terkandung didalam subjek sejarah dan sains kemanusian, sebagai satu

perspektif. Dilihat dari perspektif yang lain, jelas bahawa pendekatan ketamadunan

‘interdisciplinary’ Bennabi terbahagi kepada dua bahagian; konsep-konsep utama

dan interpretasi pergerakan ketamadunan yang terbentuk berdasarkan kontek

pendekatan faktor dalaman-luaran dan faktor sosio-intelektual.

Penggunaan faktor-faktor sosio-dalaman sebagai latarbelakang (keluarga, ugama dan

pendidikan) dan pencarian intelektual beliau (aktiviti dan hubungan intelektual) dari

satu aspek dan faktor-faktor sosial –luaran dalam proses kolonisasi dan nyah-

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kolonisasi sebagai aspek yang lain telah membentuk struktur sosial pendekatan

Bennabi.

Disamping itu, faktor-faktor dalaman-intelektual sebagai satu teori dominan didalam

kajian ketamadunan dan faktor-faktor luaran-intelektual bersandarkan Qur’an dan

Sunna, pemikiran reformis dunia Islam, psikologi, falsafah dan teori modernisme,

sains semula jadi dan matematik membantu membentuk struktur intelektual atau

kognitif Bennabi.

Penyelidik mendapati bahawa dengan menggunakan kaedah (Mu) didalam kajian ini,

penyelidik bukan sahaja dapat mengulas pendekatan Bennabi, malah dapat dapat

memahami secara mendalam pendekatan ‘interdisciplinary’ beliau berkaitan

ketamadunan dan struktur asasnya.

Oleh itu, (Mu) adalah satu sistem metodologi yang boleh diguna pakai untuk lebih

memahami pendekatan Bennabi terhadap proses ketamadunan, disamping berpotensi

besar dalam membantu proses perkembangan idea, pendekatan-pendekatan dan teori-

teori berdasarkan sifat menyeluruh (Mu) sebagai alat yang mengintegrasikan falsafah

sains, idea-idea berdasarkan sejarah dan ilmu sosiologi didalam satu metodologi

yang dikenali sebagai ‘metatheorizing.’

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am thankful to Allah (S.W.T) for His guidance, grace and blessings without which
this task would not have been completed.
My enduring gratitude to my supervisory committee members; Dr. Zaid Ahmad,
Professor Dr. Jayum Jawan and Associate Professor Dr. Kamaruzaman Yusof, whose
enthusiastic support and critical insights, insightful comments, suggestions,
invaluable assistance and guidance made the experience of writing this thesis not
only possible but consistently challenging and enjoyable.
My heartfelt thanks also go to Professor George Ritzer of Department of Theoretical
Sociology, University of Maryland, USA, Professor Sayed Farid al-Attas,
Department of Sociology, National University of Singapore, and Professor
Azadarmaki, Department of Sociology, University of Tehran. Professor Sano Kotub,
Director of the International Institute of Muslim Unity Malaysia, Associate Professor
Dr. Ibrahim Zien, Department of Usūl al-Dīn, International Islamic University,
Malaysia and Dr Mazin from the American Center for Civilization and Cultural
Studies, Canada for their comments, advices and academic support along my study
period.
I would also like to express my gratitude to my wife Dr. Farida zouzou, Islamic
University College of Malaysia (Kuim), my friend, Riadh Haoui, whose valuable
comments and advice were always helpful, sustaining and provocative. His
friendship and the friendship of Dr. Ahmad Boukthir, Dr. Salih Seboui Dr.
Meghuellati Sahraoui and Dr. Bashir Soualhi have made this time of research and
writing a rewarding and fruitful one.
My gratefulness also goes to Dr. Adnan Holdin from the English Language Center,
International Islamic University Malaysia for spending much of his time reading and
editing this work.
My thanks also go to the Librarians of University Putra Malaysia, University
Malaya, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Pusat Islam Malaysia and The
International Islamic University Malaysia, for their help in providing the source
materials and allowing me access to their special collections.
My love and gratitude also goes to my friends Beroual, Abdessalam, Raddad,
Hidousi, Bouguerra and Ferrah who started it all many years ago in a youth hostel in
Batna University, Algeria. How quickly the years passed.
Last but not least, my heartiest thanks, gratefulness and deep heartfelt expressions of
gratitude to the Malaysian people and government for giving me this chance to live
among them and to learn some of my enduring lessons from their cultural traditions
and heritage.

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I certify that an Examination Committee met on 17 September 2004 to conduct the
final examination of Badrane Benlahcene on his Doctor of Philosophy. thesis entitled
“A Metatheoretical Study of Malek Bennabi's Approach To Civilization" in
accordance with Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (Higher Degree) Act 1980 and
Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (Higher Degree) Regulations 1981. The Committee
recommends that the candidate be awarded the relevant degree. Members of the
Examination Committee are as follows:

Jariah Masud, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Faculty of Human Ecology
Universiti Putra Malaysia
(Chairman)

Nurdang Deurasih, Ph.D.

Faculty of Human Ecology
Universiti Putra Malaysia
(Member)

Nobaya Ahmad, Ph.D.

Faculty of Human Ecology
Universiti Putra Malaysia
(Member)

Hassan Ahmed Ibrahim, Ph.D.

Professor
Faculty of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences
International Islamic University Malaysia
(Independent Examiner)

________________________________________

GULAM RUSUL RAHMAT ALI, Ph.D.

Professor/Deputy Dean
School of Graduate Studies
Universiti Putra Malaysia

Date:

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This thesis is submitted to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia and has been
accepted as fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
The members of the Supervisory Committee are as follows:

Zaid Bin Ahmad, Ph.D.

Faculty of Human Ecology
Universiti Putra Malaysia
(Chairman)

Jayum Anak Jawan, Ph.D.

Professor
Faculty of Human Ecology
Universiti Putra Malaysia
(Member)

Kamaruzaman Yusof, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Faculty of Social Sciences
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
(Member)

____________________
AINI IDERIS, Ph.D.
Professor/ Dean
School of Graduate Studies
Universiti Putra Malaysia

Date:

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 DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the thesis is based on my original work except for quotations
and citations which have been duly acknowledged. I also declare that it has not been
previously or concurrently submitted for any other degree at UPM or other
institutions.

………………………….

BADRANE BENLAHCENE

Date:

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
DEDICATION
ii
ABSTRACT
iii
ABSTRAK
v
ACKNOWLEDEGEMENTS
vii
APPROVAL
viii
DECLARATION
x
LIST OF TABLES
xvi
LIST OF FIGURES
xvii
LIST OF ABREVIATIONS
xviii
LIST OF TRANSLETERATIONS
xix

CHAPTER

1
1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1. Introduction 1
1.1.1. The Background of the Study 1
1.1. 2. Statement of the Problem 6
1.1. 3. Objectives of the study 7
1.1. 4. The Importance of the Study 8
1.1. 5. Methodology 9
1.1.5. 1. Ritzer’s Metatheorizing approach 10
1.1.5. 2. The Techniques 19
1.1.5. 3. The Operational definitions 20
1.1.5.4. The sources 23
1.2. Literature Review 23
1.2.1. Civilization, history and philosophy of history 27
1.2.2. Sociology, Social Change and Culture 31
1.2.3. Biography and General Works 36
1.2.4. Summary and conclusions 37
1.3. Chapters' Outlines 40

2 CIVILIZATION: THE CONCEPT AND THE APPROACHES 47

2.1. The Concept of Civilization: A Changing Vocabulary 48

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 2.1.1. Civilization in Western Scientific Tradition 49
2.1.1.1. The Literal Definition of Civilization 49
2.1.1.2. The Terminological Definition of Civilization 51
2.1.2. Civilization in the Muslim Scientific Tradition 59
2.1.2.1. The Literal Meaning of Civilization 59
2.1.2.2. The Terminological Definition of Civilization 62
2.1.3. Conclusion 66
2.2. Approaches to Civilization 68
2.2.1. The Approach of the Philosophy of History 69
2.2. 2. The Approach of the Social Sciences 75
2.2. 2.1. The Approach of Anthropology 76
2.2.2.2. The Approach of Sociology 79
2.3. Conclusion: The Need for an Interdisciplinary Approach to Civilization 85
2.3.1. The complexity of the phenomenon of civilization 86
2.3.2. The arguments for an interdisciplinary approach 88

3 BENNABI’S APPROACH TO CIVILIZATION: 91

(1) THE MAJOR CONCEPTS
3.1. The Starting Point of Bennabi's Approach 91
3.2. Bennabi's Concept of Civilization 95
3.2.1. Definition of Civilization 95
3.2.2. The Interdisciplinary Approach to Civilization 100
3.3. The Elements of Civilization 105
3.3.1. The Equation of Civilization 105
3.3.2. Man (Insān); the primary device of civilization 109
3.3. 2. 1. The Difference between Integrated and Disintegrated Man: 110
3.3. 2. 2. The Idea of Orientation 114
3.3. 3. Religion and Its Position in the Equation of Civilization 118
3.3. 3. 1. The Importance of Religion as Catalyser 118
3.3. 3. 2. Bennabi’s Meaning of Religion 123
3.4. The Concept of the Three Realms of Society 125
3.4.1. The Origin of the three realms 126
3.4.2. The Nature of the Three Realms 128
3.4. 2. 1. The Realm of Persons 128
3.4. 2. 2. The Realm of Ideas 131
3.4. 2. 3. The Realm of Objects 133
3.5. The Concept of Social relations network 136
3.5.1. Meaning of Social Relations Network 136
3.5.2. Difference between the Social Relations Network and the Society 138
3.6. Conclusion 144

4 BENNABI APPROACH TO CIVILIZATION: 146

(2) THE INTERPRETATION OF THE MOVEMENT OF CIVILIZATION
4.1. The Cyclical Movement of a Civilization 146
4.1.1. Definition of the Cycle of Civilization 146
4.1.2. The Three phases of the Cycle of Civilization 150
4.1.3. The Universality of the Cycle of Civilization 161
4.2. The Concept of the Three Stages of Society 163
4.2.1. The Pre- Civilized Society 165
4.2.2. The Civilized Society 167

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 4.2.3. The Post- Civilized Society 170
4.2.4. The Importance of the Post Civilized Stage 171
4.3. The Concept of Three Ages of a Society 177
4.3.1. Meaning and Characteristics of the three ages of Society 177
4.3.2. The Importance of the Concept of the Three Ages 182
4.4. The Concept of Three States of the Social Relations Network 184
4.4.1. The state of compactness 187
4.4.2. The State of Looseness 192
4.4.3. The State of Disintegration 193
4.5. Conclusion 195

5 THE ROOTS OF BENNABI’S APPROACH:

197
THE INTERNAL-SOCIAL DIMENSION
5.1. Bennabi’s Background 199
5.1.1. Family Background 199
5.1.1.1. Family Structure and Situation 199
5.1.1.2. Between the Two Milieus 203
5.1.1.3. Bennabi’s Marriage 204
5.1.2. The religious background 206
5.1.2.1. The Early Age 206
5.1.2.2. The Religious Experience in France 210
5.1.3. The Educational Background 211
5.1.3.1. At the Kuttāb 211
5.1.3.2. At the Official Primary School 213
5.1.3.3. At the Secondary School in Constantine 216
5.1.3.4. The Wondering Years 220
5.1.3.5. The French Stage and its Circumstances 222
5.1.3.6. At the Polytechnic 225
5.2. The Intellectual Pursuits 231
5.2.1. The Activist Life 232
5.2.1.1. The Early Activities 232
5.2.1.2. The Activities of French Period 234
5.2.1.3. The Activities in Egypt and Independent Algeria 240
5.2.2. Intellectual Connections 244
5.2.2.1. Connections with the ‘Ulama and Reformists 245
5.2.2.2. Connections with they Early Muslim Scholars 249
5.2.2.3. Connections with Friends and Colleagues 251
5.3. Conclusion 253

6 THE ROOTS OF BENNABI’S APPROACH: 256

THE EXTERNAL-SOCIAL DIMENSION
6.1. The Colonization Process 258
6.1.1. The European Expansion in the World 259
6.1.1.1. The Zeal of Expansion 259
6.1.1.2. The Ways of Expansion 262
6.1.2. The colonization Process in Algeria 264
6.1.2.1. The Algerian Society before the Colonial Era 265
6.1.2.2. The Total Colonization of Algeria 268

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 6.1.2.3. The Process of Colonization in Algeria and its Impact on
278
Bennabi
6.2. The Decolonization Process 285
6.2.1. The Universal Frame of Decolonization 286
6.2.2. The Decolonization Process in Algeria 288
6.2.2.1. Factors of the National Algerian Awakening 288
6.2.2.2. The Political Wing of the National Movement 291
6.2.2.3. The Intellectual Religious Wing of National Movement 295
6.2.3. The Impact of the Decolonization Process on Bennabi 298
6.3. Conclusion 301

7 THE ROOTS OF BENNABI’S APPROACH:

306
THE INTERNAL-INTELLECTUAL DIMENSION
7.1. The Field of Study of Civilization 307
7.2. The Paradigm of Philosophy of History 311
7.2.1. The Progressive School: its Contributions and Impact on Bennabi 312
7.2.1.1.Contributions of the Progressive School to the Study of
312
Civilization:
7.2.1.2. The Impact of the Progressive School on Bennabi's Approach 318
7.2.2. The Cyclical School; its Contributions and Impact on Bennabi's
326
Approach:
7.2.2.1. Contributions of the Cyclical School to the Study of Civilization: 327
a. Ibn Khaldün's Contributions to the Study of Civilization: 328
b. Toynbee’s Contributions to the Study of Civilization: 333
7.2.3.2. The Impact of the Cyclical School on Bennabi's Approach: 338
a. Ibn Khaldun's Impact on Bennabi's Approach: 338
b. Toynbee’s Impact on Bennabi's approach: 343
7.3. The Paradigm of Social Sciences: 349
7.3.1. Varied perspectives 350
7.3.2. Bennabi’s Views of the Social Scientists’ Contributions 352
7.3.3. Bennabi’s Contribution from the Social Scientific Point of View 356
7.3.3.1. The Starting Point of Analysis 356
7.3.3.2. The Typology and Definition of Society 358
7.4. Conclusion 364

8 THE ROOTS OF BENNABI’S APPROACH:

368
THE EXTERNAL-INTELLECTUAL DIMENSION
8.1. The Impact of the Qur’an and Sunna on Bennabi’s Approach 369
8.1.1. The Important Aspects of the Qur’an and Sunna for Bennabi 370
8.1.2. How did the Qur’an and Sunna influence Bennabi? 373
8.1.3. To What extent did the Qur’an and Sunnah influence Bennabi? 375
8.2. The Impact of Reformist Thought in the Muslim World on Bennabi 379
8.2.1. Reformist Thought; Its Pioneers and Ideas 380
8.2.2. How Was Bennabi influenced by the Ideas of Reform Movement 384
8.3. The influence of Psychology on Bennabi’s Approach to Civilization 389
8.3.1. How Did Bennabi Get in Touch With Psychology? 389

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 8.3.2. The Main Ideas in Psychology that Influenced Bennabi’s Approach 393
8.3.2.1. Freud’s Influence on Bennabi’s Approach 393
8.3.2.2. Jung’s Influence on Bennabi’s Approach 339
8.3.2.3. Piaget’s Influence on Bennabi’s Approach 402
8.4. The Influence of Philosophy on Bennabi’s Approach 406
8.4.1. Bennabi's links with some Philosophers 407
8. 4.1.1. Philosophers and Philosophies of Less Importance 407
8.4.1.2. Philosophers of More Importance 409
8.4.2. The Impact of Descartes on Bennabi’s Approach 410
8.4.2.1. The Influence of the Cartesian Spirit 410
8.4.2.2. The Influence of The Analytical Method 412
8.4.3. The Impact of the Discourse of Modernity 413
8.5. The Influence of the Natural Sciences on Bennabi’s Approach 417
8.6. Conclusion 422

9 CONCLUSION 425

9.1. Bennabi’s Contribution to the Study of Civilization 425

9.1.1. The Critical Review of the Dominant Paradigms 425
9.1.2. Bennabi’s Interdisciplinary Approach 430
9.2. The Usefulness of (Mu) 433
9.2.1. The Benefit of (Mu) in Discovering the Roots of Bennabi’s Approach 433
9.2.2. The Methodological Tools that (Mu) provides 446

BIBLIOGRAPHY 451
BIODATA OF THE AUTHOR 464

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