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Religious gatekeeping happens when certain people or groups decide which religious ideas are shared or accepted. This affects what people believe and whose voices are heard, especially in debates over religion.
Orientalism has shaped how the West views Islamic societies. In his book Orientalism (1978), Edward Said explains that Western scholars often described Islamic societies as backward or strange. This created a biased image in schools, media, and public opinion, showing the East as unchanging and inferior. Such portrayals helped justify Western interference in these countries’ politics and culture.
Colonial powers also influenced religious education. Colonialism is when a powerful country takes control of another to use its land, resources, and people, often affecting local culture, religion, and schools. In British India, many schools served colonial goals, sometimes undermining traditional Islamic learning. Barbara Metcalf’s research on the Deobandi movement shows how Muslims responded to protect their faith.
Even within Muslim communities, gatekeeping happens when leaders favor certain scholars or teachings. Sayyid Qutb, in Milestones (1964), criticized modernist or Western-influenced interpretations and emphasized returning to authentic Islamic understanding. From this view, modernist approaches can themselves be a product of gatekeeping, promoting some voices while sidelining traditional scholarship.
Today, awareness of gatekeeping, Orientalism, and colonialism is important because information spreads quickly online. Individuals can act by seeking diverse sources, verifying claims with authentic scholarship and critically engaging with both traditional and modern interpretations. This strengthens personal understanding, helps preserve authentic teachings and reduces the influence of biased or selective narratives.
References:
Said, E. W. (1978). Orientalism. Highlights how Western narratives have misrepresented Islam.
Metcalf, B. D. (1982). Islamic Revival in British India: Deoband, 1860–1900. Documents Muslim responses to colonial religious control.
Qutb, S. (1964). Milestones. Critiques modernist interpretations and emphasizes returning to authentic Islamic understanding.
