Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the renowned German poet and writer, had a profound fascination with Islam that spanned much of his life. His engagement with Islamic thought and literature significantly influenced his work and worldview.
Goethe’s Interest in Islam
Goethe’s interest in Islam began at a young age and deepened throughout his life[1]. At 23, he composed an ode praising Muhammad, and even at 70, he expressed awe for the night when the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet[3]. His fascination with Islam was not merely academic but deeply personal and intense[1].
The Qur’an and Islamic Teachings
Goethe was particularly drawn to several aspects of Islamic teachings:
- Nature as Divine Signs: He appreciated the Qur’anic verses that present natural phenomena as signs of divine laws[1][7].
- Monotheism: Goethe found confirmation for his own views on primordial monotheism in the Qur’an[1].
- Divine Unity: The concept of God’s oneness resonated strongly with Goethe[1][7].
- Prophethood: He was impressed by the Qur’anic statement that God sends prophets to each people in their own language[7].
Goethe’s West-Eastern Divan
Goethe’s most significant work influenced by Islamic thought is the “West-Eastern Divan.” In this collection, he incorporated numerous references to Islamic concepts and even stated that the book’s author “does not reject the suspicion that he himself is a Muslim”[3]. A famous quatrain from this work, inspired by a Qur’anic verse, reads:
“To God belongs the Orient! / To God belongs the Occident! / Northern and southern lands / rest in the peace of His hands.”[9]
Goethe’s View on Islam
While Goethe had a deep appreciation for Islam, it’s important to note that he was not a Muslim in the conventional sense[5]. His engagement with Islam was part of his broader interest in world religions and cultures. He saw value in Islamic teachings and found them compatible with his own spiritual and philosophical views[2].
Goethe believed that “religion has no underlying nationality” and would likely argue that Islam has as much right to exist in Germany as Christianity or Judaism[2]. His approach to Islam was characterized by openness, respect, and a desire to find common ground between Eastern and Western thought.
In conclusion, Goethe’s engagement with Islam was a significant aspect of his intellectual and spiritual journey, influencing his work and contributing to his vision of world literature and intercultural understanding[1][3].
Citations:
[1] https://www.ajis.org/index.php/ajiss/article/download/861/201/1116
[2] https://qantara.de/en/article/goethe-and-islam-religion-has-no-nationality
[5] https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3bql8c/was_goethe_muslim/
[6] https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7722/j.ctt6wpb13
[7] https://www.islamawareness.net/Converts/goethe.html
[8] https://hernefes.com/en/islam-in-goethes-works/
[9] https://newdivan.org.uk/blog/goethe-and-the-quran/
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the renowned German poet and writer, expressed a profound appreciation for Islam throughout his life. One of his most famous quotes regarding Islam and submission to God’s will is:
“Stupid that everyone in his case
Is praising his particular opinion!
If Islam means submission to God,
We all live and die in Islam.”[6]
This quote encapsulates Goethe’s understanding of Islam as a universal concept of submission to the divine will. He suggests that if we define Islam as submission to God, then all people, regardless of their professed faith, are essentially living and dying in a state of Islam.
Goethe elaborates on this idea in another version of the quote:
“The folly! Every man in turn would still
His own peculiar notions magnify!
If Islam mean submission to God’s will,
May we all live in Islam, and all die.”[5]
Here, Goethe critiques the tendency of individuals to elevate their own particular beliefs while emphasizing the universal nature of submission to God. He suggests that this submission, which he equates with Islam, is a state in which all people could potentially live and die.
Goethe’s perspective on Islam was deeply influenced by his study of the Quran and Islamic literature. He saw Islam not as a narrow religious doctrine, but as a broader philosophical approach to life that emphasized harmony with the divine will. This view aligned with his own spiritual and philosophical outlook, which emphasized the unity of nature and the divine.
It’s important to note that while Goethe had great respect for Islam and found many of its teachings compatible with his own views, he was not a Muslim in the conventional sense. Rather, his engagement with Islam was part of his broader interest in world religions and cultures, and his quest to find universal truths that transcended particular religious traditions[1][4].
Citations:
[2] https://dailytimes.com.pk/11763/goethes-tribute-to-islam/
[3] https://www.islamawareness.net/Converts/goethe.html
[4] https://www.ajis.org/index.php/ajiss/article/download/861/201/1116
[5] https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Johann_Wolfgang_von_Goethe
[6] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1301708-stupid-that-everyone-in-his-case-is-praising-his-particular
[7] https://hernefes.com/en/islam-in-goethes-works/
[8] https://www.reddit.com/r/shia/comments/it53pa/johann_wolfgang_von_goethe_considered_the/