Beyond Orientalism: Ahmad Ibn Qāsim al-Hajarī between Europe and North Africa by Oumelbanine Zhiri (review).

This text focuses on the life and intellectual significance of Ahmad Ibn Qāsim al-Hajarī, a Morisco—Muslims forcibly converted to Christianity in early modern Spain—who navigated complex cultural and religious identities between Christian Europe and Islamic North Africa. The study highlights al-Hajarī's roles as a translator, envoy, and scholar involved in cross-cultural exchanges, including his work with European Orientalists and his translations of technical texts into Arabic. It challenges Edward Said's conception of Orientalism as solely a European imperialist project by emphasizing the collaborative and transnational nature of early modern Orientalism, involving non-European actors like al-Hajarī. The book also explores broader themes of knowledge circulation, linguistic mediation, and the interconnectedness of Mediterranean cultures during this period.