Middle Eastern studies
All topics-
Muslims and the COVID-19 pandemic
No pilgrims in times of coronavirus?
Saudi Arabia has called on Muslims across the world to put their hajj preparations on hold for the time being. The corona pandemic is impacting one of the central pillars of Islamic life. But how can Saudi Arabia’s cancellation of the hajj be justified theologically? By Lena-Maria Moeller and Serdar Kurnaz
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The maqamas of Ibn Naqiya in German translation
The picaresque poet from Baghdad
The "maqama", a classical Arabic form of prose-poetry, is still almost unknown in Germany – as is the name of the 11th-century Baghdad poet Ibn Naqiya. A new translation has the potential to change all that. By Gerrit Wustmann
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The Prophet and Sharia
Islamic family law reform – a question of interpretation
Equality in divorce, a ban on polygamy: reformers of Islamic family law have a clear agenda. They are exploiting the ambiguity of traditional jurisprudence. By Joseph Croitoru
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Islam in Germany
Countering the Islamisation hysteria
Cliches, prejudices and half-truths shape the public image of Islam today. Published in German, "Islam. Friend or foe? 38 theses against hysteria" penned by religious scholars Monika and Udo Tworuschka counters the increasingly hysterical debate with sound argument. Interview by Lucy James
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Book review: Susannah Heschel on "Jewish Islam"
Jewish Orientalism?
In her book Susannah Heschel investigates the role of Islam in the emergence of a Jewish identity and seeks to pay tribute to the academic legacy of Jewish-German scholars of Islam of the 19th and 20th centuries. But the romantic narrative of a somewhat different kind of Orientalism has its pitfalls. By Ozan Keskinkilic
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Germanyʹs Islam debate
The need to meet Islam critics head on
At a recent Berlin event, researchers talked about how to achieve a more nuanced discussion on Islam and Muslims. Were academics more proactive about presenting their empirical findings in the public arena, Rene Wildangel argues, they could play a major role in countering populist disinformation
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The politicisation of Islam scholarship in Europe
Muslims under scrutiny
Muslims are facing intense scrutiny by academic researchers. A wide variety of disciplines are involved. But are contexts and outcomes being reflected upon with a sufficiently critical eye? By Joseph Croitoru
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"Godʹs Revelation in the Word of Men"
A Koran for the 21st century
With the first in a series of 17 planned commentaries on the Koran, editor Mouhanad Khorchide from the University of Munster builds a bridge between traditional readings of the Koran and modern scholarly interpretation. Musa Bagrac read the book
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Germany′s Academy for Islam in Research and Society
Filling a void in the discourse
Germany's Academy for Islam in Research and Society took up its work one year ago. Its mission is to promote Islamic theological research and to provide a sound factual basis for the public discourse on Islam. By Canan Topcu
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Treasures of the ancient Middle East
Deciphering the first written language
Some time around 3200 BC, humans living in the ancient Middle East developed the first written language. George Smith presented fragments of the Flood narrative from the ancient Middle Eastern story of Gilgamesh at a conference in London in 1872 – and mankind’s first epic was rediscovered. By Melanie Christina Mohr
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Accusations against Tariq Ramadan
Yet to be proven
Following allegations of sexual assault, police in France took renowned Islam scholar Tariq Ramadan into custody for questioning last Wednesday. Two women say he raped them. By Bachir Amroune
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Non-fiction: ″Religious criticism around 1900″
Middle Eastern philosophy's take on Islam
How is the relationship between science, philosophy and religion discussed in the Muslim world, beyond the well-known dictum that Islam rules its states and societies and therefore also determines its morality and aesthetics? A new series by Berlin-based publishers Klaus Schwarz addresses this question. By Sonja Hegasy