The title "Jüdischer Islam" (engl. Jewish Islam) seems to be contradictory at first. However, it puts the study of Susannah Heschel in a nutshell, as the Judaist analysed how the Islam influenced Jewism and German-Jewish scholars in the 19th and early 20th century: Which parallels between the Qur'an and rabbinic literature did occur? In how far did a Jewish Orientalism exist? In an interview we asked Dr. Susannah Heschel about her study and the field of Jewish Islamic studies.
"The scholarship is by now nearly 200 years old"
L.I.S.A.: Dr. Heschel, you recently published the essay: “Jüdischer Islam” – translated to English as “Jewish Islam”. First, the title seems to be misleading as you deal with the history of Jewish Islamic scholars in Germany. Why the title?
Dr. Heschel: The title is meant to be slightly provocative and slightly ironic. The scholarship I am presenting in the book is by now nearly 200 years old. What interests me is not to judge its accuracy, but to try to understand why the study of Islam was of such great interest to German Jewish scholars. Why were they so fascinated by the parallels between Islam and Judaism? What did that fascination contribute to their identity as German Jews and to their understanding of Judaism? The sympathy they showed for Islam is what intrigues me.