Rashid Rida, Muhammad

Rashid Rida, Muhammad

(born 1865, Syria—died 1935, Syria) Syrian Islamic scholar. As founder (1898) and publisher of the newspaper Al-Manar, he helped Muslims formulate an intellectual response to the problem of reconciling their religious heritage with the modern world. He was concerned with the backwardness of the Muslim countries, which he proposed to remedy by reviving the original principles of Islam. He advocated that rulers consult with religious leaders in formulating government policies. He also urged Arabs and Muslims to emulate the scientific and technological progress of the West.