Mohamed Talbi (Arabic: محمد الطالبي), (16 September 1921[1] – 1 May 2017) was a Tunisian author, professor, and Islamologist.[2]
Doctor of History
Mohamed Talbi
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محمد الطالبي
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Talbi in 11 November 2012
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| Born | (1921-09-16)16 September 1921 |
| Died | 1 May 2017(2017-05-01) (aged 95)
Tunis, Tunisia
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| Nationality | Tunisian |
| Education | Doctorate in History from the Sorbonne University |
| Occupation(s) | author, professor, Islamologist |
| Employer(s) | University of Tunis, Tunisian Academy of Sciences and Arts (2011-2012) |
| Known for | Islamic studies |
| Title | Professor |
| Movement | Islamic democracy |
Talbi was born in Tunis on 16 September 1921, attending school there and going on to study in Paris.[3] Talbi wrote prolifically on a wide range of topics, including the history of the medieval Maghreb, Islam and its relationship with both women and democracy, and Islam's role in the modern world.[4]
Talbi died in Tunis on 1 May 2017.[5]
Talbi spent most of his educational career teaching Mediterranean and North African history. He taught the Institute of Higher Education of Tunis.[6] In 1966, he became the first dean of the School of Letter and Human Sciences of Tunis,[7] as well as chairing the school's history department. He later directed the scientific journal Les Cahiers de Tunisie [fr].[8]
In 1968, Talbi defended his Ph.D. thesis, The Aghlabid Emirate, a political History, at the Sorbonne. It was focused on Tunisia's first Muslim dynasty,[9] addressing especially the history and key role of slavery in the Emirate’s agriculture and economy.[10]
Talbi was appointed president of the Tunisian Academy of Sciences, Letters, and Arts between 2011 and 2012.[11]
On the subject of Islam and democracy, Talbi rejected any direct association between Shura and democracy.[12] He argued that shura originated before Western and Islamic concepts of democracy had even developed, and that the two were not analogous .[13] Talbi also argued that democracy as rule by the people and notions of human rights, religious pluralism, and equality under the law, embodies values which Talbi believed constituted authentic Islam.[14]
Talbi participated in a number of interfaith dialogues with North African and European Christians, but also criticized the practice often. In a 1987 article, Talbi criticized the (at the time) current poverty of Muslim initiatives or even responses to Euro-Arab or Muslim-Christian dialogue.[15] Talbi also explicitly declared Islam to be open to dialogue with other faiths and cultures.[16] Talbi viewed Muslim-Christian dialogue as a significant religious matter.[17]
| Ribbon bar | Country | Honour |
|---|---|---|
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Tunisia | Grand Officer of the Order of the Republic[18] |
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Tunisia | Commander of the Order of Merit[19] |
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Tunisia | Officer of the Order of the Independence[20] |
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France | Officer of the Legion of Honour[21] |
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Spain | Commander of the Order of Civil Merit[22] |
