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

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.

Automated summary

This study examines Daniel Defoe's novel Robinson Crusoe from an Islamic perspective, arguing that the novel, despite its Western context, contains important Islamic principles. Using comparative analysis, the study explores the presence of these principles in Christianity and Islam and their portrayal in the novel. The research demonstrates that an Islamic reading of Defoe's text highlights the similarities between Christianity and Islam, ultimately bridging the gap and promoting greater understanding.