How did Islamic reformers connect religious renewal with anti-colonial nationalism?

Islamic reformers connected religious renewal with anti-colonial nationalism by arguing that the decline of Muslim societies under Western colonialism was not a failure of Islam itself, but rather a result of Muslims losing touch with the religion’s original, progressive spirit.1

Key strategies included:

• Reclaiming the Past: Reformers like Jamāl al-Dīn al-Afghānī and Muhammad ‘Abduh urged a return to the "unadulterated core" of the faith and the practices of the salaf (pious ancestors) to rejuvenate society. They argued that this spiritual and cultural heritage was essential for Muslims to regain the strength and intellectual leadership they once held.21
• Integrating Modernity: Many reformers sought to demonstrate the compatibility of Islam with rationalist thought and modern science, viewing these as tools to resist Western domination.21
• National Identity: In regions like Algeria and Morocco, intellectuals such as ‘Abd al-Hamid ibn Badis reconceived national identity in Islamic terms, placing education at the center of their nationalist projects to preserve their cultural heritage against colonial influence.3
• Political Mobilization: While some, like Rashīd Riḍā, politicized Islam to form the basis of a social and political order, others participated in constitutional revolutions, viewing religious identity as a vital component of the struggle for independence.13