Annemarie Schimmel And George Sale in Islamic Studies: An Analytical Study

Abstract

The article aims to analyze the research methodologies used by two renowned Orientalist scholars, Annemarie Schimmel from Germany and George Sale from Great Britain, in their studies on Islam. Islamic studies have developed rapidly with various methodologies and approaches, sometimes having a positive impact on the religion being studied and sometimes giving a negative impression. This study also seeks to understand how the different approaches used by these two scholars in presenting Islam to the Western world and to examine the effects of their methodologies. The methodology used to produce this study is a qualitative analysis of the main works of Annemarie Schimmel and George Sale, as well as an analysis of previous studies on these two scholars. The findings show that Schimmel succeeded in defending the image of Islam and providing a positive portrayal to the Western world through the phenomenological approach she applied. Conversely, George Sale, through his translation of the Qur'an, is often for creating ambiguity and altering the original meaning of the text, as well as removing important cultural elements due to the domestication approach he applied.