Models of Positive Historical Islamic-Western Cultural Interaction: The Challenges of Practice in the Contemporary Context

Abstract

This article delves into the history of Islamic-Western cultural interaction and the challenges undermining such interaction in the contemporary context. The research reveals that history stands as a witness for a positive empirical legacy of interactions between the Islamic and Western cultures through translation, mutual scholarships and linguistic exchange, providing a unique model of cultural engagement. However, bias and the absence of a fair perspective remain major obstacles to Islamic-Western cultural interaction, hindering an objective understanding of reality. Similarly, the influence of the “ethnic civilisation” theory and the disregard for diverse spatio-temporal contexts present another challenge to a meaningful cultural exchange. The article emphasizes the significance of considering successful historical positive models of Islamic-Western cultural interaction that have embraced diverse cultural environments, fostering a meaningful strategy for addressing the contemporary challenges of cultural exchange.