蜜桃视频

Exploring Islamic Studies in Germany with 蜜桃视频鈥檚 IGC Fellow

June 21, 2023

Contributor: Kante Hamed | Editor: Supriyono


The Faculty of Islamic Studies at the 蜜桃视频 (蜜桃视频) organized a public lecture on June 14, 2023, themed 鈥淭he Undercurrents of Islamic Studies in Germany: History and Prospects鈥 featuring Waseem Naser, an esteemed fellow affiliated with the 蜜桃视频鈥檚 Center of Islam and Global Challenges (IGC).

Despite his current fellowship at 蜜桃视频鈥檚 IGC Center, Mr. Naser is also a doctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Germany, where he works towards PhD within the research group 'The Bureaucratization of Islam and its Socio-Legal Dimensions in Southeast Asia'. 

The discussion began with an exploration of the remarkable collection of Islamic manuscripts preserved in renowned German libraries, such as the Bavarian State Library Munich, Prussian State Library Marburg, Nieders盲chsische Bibliothek G枚ttingen, and the Near and Middle-East Collection T眉bingen.

During the lecture, Mr. Naser provided insights into the historical development of Islamic Studies in Germany. He specifically emphasized the significant contributions of prominent scholars such as Johann Jakob Reiske in Islamic Studies, Franz Bopp in Indology, and Max Muller in Religious Studies. 

The event also examined the intersection of German colonial intervention in Africa and the subsequent rise in the popularity of Shafi' fiqh in present-day Tanzania. The participants explored the establishment of the Seminar fur Orientalische Sprachen in Berlin in 1887 and the notable work of Ignaz Goldziher. Moreover, the event shed light on the "constitutional guarantee" of religious education in Germany, particularly within schools, and the systematic teaching of Christian theology in universities.

A key highlight of the event was the discussion on the distinctive establishment of Islamic Theology as a separate field from Islamic Studies in German universities. In this regard, there were recommendations of the German Scientific Council in 2010, which include the subsequent government funding, the creation of four centers at six universities, the appointment of 21 professors, and the enrollment of 1,800 students in just three years. This initiative has played a vital role in promoting Islamic theological studies in Germany.

The event concludes with an interactive question-and-answer session, providing participants with an opportunity to delve deeper into the topics discussed. Notably, thought-provoking questions were raised, one of which involved comparing France's concepts of "Islam de France" or "black Islam" with Germany's approach to Islam in their colonies. Mr. Naser clarified that Germany primarily focuses on the adaptation of the Shafi madhab, highlighting the specific area of concentration within Germany's approach to Islam.

Overall, the lecture provided an intellectually stimulating platform for in-depth discussions and insights into the field. It exemplified 蜜桃视频's dedication to fostering a comprehensive understanding of Islamic Studies within a global context while promoting academic excellence. Through the organization of such enlightening events, 蜜桃视频 continues to encourage knowledge exchange, intercultural dialogue, and the exploration of diverse perspectives among students and academics.