The papers collected in this volume move from the abstract scheme of an intercultural humanism of the future to the concrete cultural express ions of different times up to the present. They concentrate mainly on three issues. The first is related to contemporary attempts to develop a humanist and historical hermeneutics of the Qur’an and of Islamic history.　　The second concerns the discussion about the humanist heritage and the humanitarian trends of Muslim religious and literary culture, and their significance for the history of Islamic Studies in Europe and merica.　　The third presents a case study on contemporary challenges to the European humanist position towards Islam posed by political communalism in Europe. In all of them, different concepts of humanism and their application are discussed. Taken together, they are appropriate to provide some ground for further productive discussions on the future of an intercultural humanism with respect to the Muslim world.

Abu Zayd,Nasr Hamid, Prof. Dr. (1943 –2010)　　Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the Universities of Cairo, Leiden and Utrecht.Arkoun, Mohammed, Prof. Dr. (1928–2010)　　Professor Emeritus at the University of Paris La Sorbonne; Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Ismaili Studies.Biesterfeldt, Hans Hinrich, Prof. Dr.　　Professor Emeritus of Islamic Studies at the University of Bochum; former Director of Arabicum at the National Language Institute (LSI) of North Rhine-Westphalia.Kemper, Michael, Prof. Dr.　　Professor of Eastern European Studies at the University of Amsterdam.Kreutz, Michael, Dr.　　Researcher at the University of Halle-Wittenberg.Reichmuth, Stefan, Prof. Dr.　　Professor of Islamic and Oriental Studies at the University of Bochum, Co-editor of DieWelt des Islams, International Journal for the Study of Modern Islam.Rusen, Jorn, Prof. Dr. Dr. hc　　Senior Fellow at the Kulturwissenschaftliches Institut (Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities) KWI Essen, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Witten /Herdecke.Sarhan, Aladdin, M.A.　　Researcher at the University of Erfurt.Schabler, Birgit, Prof. Dr.　　Professor of History at the University of Erfurt.Wild, Stefan, Prof. Dr.　　Professor Emeritus of Semitic Languages and Islamic Studies at the University of Bonn, Co-editor of DieWelt des Islams, International Journal for the Study of Modern Islam.Wursch, Renate, Prof. Dr.　　Professor for Islamic Studies at the University of Basel and Zurich.

1. Forewordby Stefan Reichmuth / Jo?rn R?sen / Aladdin Sarhan2. Humanism and Muslim Culture: Historical Heritage and Contemporary Challengesby Stefan Reichmuth / J?rn R?sen / Aladdin SarhanPart I: A humanist hermeneutics of Islam?3. The Concept of Man in the Qur’an. Non-Muslim Perspectives by Stefan Wild 4. Rethinking the Qur’an: Towards a Humanistic Hermeneuticsby Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd5. The Vicissitudes of Ethics in Islamic Thoughtby Mohammed ArkounPart II: Debates on humanist elements in Islamic culture6. Humanism and Mysticism – Inspirations from Islam by Renate W?rsch7. The Perfect Man – a Humanist? by Hinrich Biesterfeldt8. Humanism in Islam between Mysticism and Literatureby Stefan Reichmuth9. Understanding the Other: Taha Husayn on Reason and Individualismby Michael KreutzPart III: Humanism and Islam in European identity politics: German and Dutch cases10. Humanism, Orientalism, Modernity : A Critiqueby Birgit Sch?bler11. The Cracks in Civilizations: The Dutch Public Discourse on Humanism and Islamby Michael KemperAbout the ContributorsIndex of NamesIndex of Places