Martin Exports

Chapter 10   SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS   Zaytuna Mosque, one of the great centers of Islamic studies I North Africa, has been in existence since its initial construction in 732. This mosque has been ranked by many as the second largest center of Islamic studies in that region. Yet there has been little written on this mosque concerning its reformation and secularization. The factors which influenced this reformation and secularization are often under emphasized or not identified. There have been few who have examined the affect that the introduction of modern ideas in Tunisia has had on this traditional center of Islamic studies. This lack of information on the secularization and reformation of Zaytuna University elicited the research and writing of this dissertation.   In obtaining the information for this dissertation, the writer consulted various materials during a nine month period he was in Tunis, Tunisia. During that period information concerning Zaytuna a...

Chapter 9   MAJOR REFORMS AT ZAYTUNA   In this chapter the reforms of 1932 and 1933 and the various factors which brought about these reforms are examined. The period of 1932-33 was of great importance in the history of reform at Zaytuna. In 1932 the nizara was changed and in that same year, Shaykh at-Tahir Ibn Ashur was made the first Director-Shaykh (Rector) of Zaytuna. This action placed Zaytuna more directly under the control of the Prime Minister because after that time, there was one chief representative at Zaytuna and he was highly responsible to the government. In the year 1933 great reform took place at Zaytuna. In that year the reform commission's efforts were demonstrated by the issuing of decrees on March 30, 1933 and July 3, 1933. In 1933 nationalism was gaining support. A political reformist named Habib Bourguiba was becoming known and gaining a following. Thus the year 1933 played a very important part in the history of Zaytuna.   Reform Efforts...