About

About Al-Nahda

Al-Nahda (النهضة, "The Renaissance") is a quarterly academic journal committed to publishing original scholarship at the intersection of Islamic intellectual heritage and contemporary thought.

Our Vision

We envision a world where the rich intellectual traditions of Islamic civilization are in active, generative dialogue with the pressing questions of our time. Al-Nahda serves as a platform for this dialogue, bringing together scholars, thinkers, and writers from diverse disciplines and backgrounds.

What We Publish

Each seasonal issue of Al-Nahda is organized around a central theme, featuring long-form essays, critical analyses, and reflective pieces that engage with:

  • Islamic Philosophy and Theology — classical and contemporary explorations of kalam, falsafa, and tasawwuf
  • History and Historiography — reexaminations of Islamic civilizational history and its methodologies
  • Literature and Language — Arabic literary traditions, translation studies, and comparative literature
  • Art and Architecture — Islamic aesthetics, sacred space, and material culture
  • Culture and Society — contemporary Muslim experience, identity, and social thought

Editorial Standards

All submissions undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process. We are committed to the highest standards of academic integrity while maintaining accessibility for an educated general readership. Our editorial board comprises distinguished scholars from institutions across the globe.

The Name

The word nahda (نهضة) carries deep resonance in Arabic intellectual history. Historically associated with the 19th-century Arab Renaissance movement, it signifies awakening, rising, and renewal. We chose this name to honor that legacy while affirming that the work of intellectual renewal is never finished. Each generation must undertake its own nahda.

Open Access Commitment

Al-Nahda is committed to making knowledge accessible. All articles are freely available online, and select issues are available in print and PDF formats. We believe that barriers to knowledge are barriers to understanding.

"Read, in the name of your Lord who created." — Quran 96:1

Contact

For submissions, inquiries, or partnership opportunities, please visit our contact page.