Salim Al Bustani

Salim was the author of the following historical novels: Al-Huyām fī jinān al-shām (1870; Arabic: Passion in Syrian Gardens), Zanubiya (1871) and Budur (1872).[1][10] The first one which is about the conquest of Syria by Muslims in the 7^th century and was serialized in Al Jinan[10] was one of the earliest novels in Arabic.[11] His other novels were also published in the same title.[12]

Salim was part of the Nahda movement. His articles in Al Jinan and in other publications attempted to make a synthesis between the Ottoman Sultan Abdulmejid's principle of the equality of the Ottoman citizens before the law and the Western concepts.[5] Therefore, he focused on the following topics: division between religion and state and the establishment of a national bond without depending on religious sects and communal groups.[5]

He harshly criticized economic imperialism of the Western countries and initiated a protest against the use of their products in 1870.[13] He argued that there were significant damages caused by this since these countries bought raw materials from the Middle Eastern countries and sold the products made with these materials to the same countries.[13] For him, this cycle was the major reason for the poverty of people and the destruction of local commercial activities.[13]

In regard to the underdevelopment of the Arab nations Salim cited the lack of positivist knowledge as its cause which he regarded as the prerequisite for cultural and technological growth.[14] He was one of the supporters of women's education which his mother, Rahil, attached importance.[9] Salim stated "She who rocks the cradle with her left hand moves the world with her right."[9] He was among the Lebanese intellectuals who advocated the idea of romantic love between individuals with freedom.[13]