Allegorical depictions of the spiritual life of man in Robinson Crusoe (1719): An Islamic perspective

Abstract

This study aims to read Daniel Defoe’s novel Robinson Crusoe from an Islamic perspective, arguing that the novel ‒ though set in a Western context ‒ is rich with the foundational principles of Islam. The study uses the comparative analytical method to compare and contrast the presence of these principles prevalent in Christianity and Islam and portrayed in the novel through the disobedience, repentance, solace in spirituality, and ultimately, the triumph of the individual, the protagonist, Robinson Crusoe. The paper thus demonstrates the extent to which an Islamic reading of Defoe’s classic text fosters greater consciousness of the close affinity between Christianity and Islam, breaking the wall and bridging the divide. The analysis, in other words, highlights a range of Christian ethics, such as sin/disobedience, repentance and providence, that the story presents and are also the basic principles in Islam. In this sense, the study further reveals that Crusoe, as is evident in these readings from a new perspective, is not a unique man, he is rather representative of mankind which is also the case with religion and literature that use man as an epitome of God’s will which ensures poetic justice, though it may come after much suffering.

Keywords:

• christianity
• disobedience
• Islamic perspective
• moral values
• repentance
• sin
• spirituality

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Khaled Abkar Alkodimi

Khaled Alkodimi is currently an associate professor of English Language & Literature at Imam University. Mr. Alkodimi has been a Sage Open Article Editor and reviewer since 2012, as well as, an editorial member and a reviewer for many international journals. His recent published papers include, the Concept of nation in al-Muqri’s Novels; Identity and Patriarchy: Nadia al-Kowkabani’s My Sana’a and Al-Muqri’s Anti-Religious Stance: A Call for Moderate Islamic Discourse. His Research Areas of interest include, Comparative/Arabic/English Literature, Postcolonial Literature, Feminist studies and English Language Teaching. Mr. Alkodimi has handled a few funded projects in his current university/position, mostly one project each one or two academic year(s). The current paper is a part of a research Project: Spirituality and Individualism in Robinson Crusoe (1719): An Islamic Perspective. Initially, it was intended to be funded by the university but due technical aspects related to timing and funding, I decided to do it on my own.