The Development of Islamic Studies in the West

This article examines the tumultuous history of Islamic studies in the West, which sheds light on current views and interactions between Westerners and Muslims. It explores the legacy of past encounters and interactions, which have shaped contemporary perspectives. The article investigates the history of Western thought about Islam from its emergence to the present, and it offers a new perspective for Persian-speaking audiences. Rather than investigating specific historical periods or geographic schools, the article aims to identify significant paradigms in Islamic studies. Five paradigms are introduced: the biblical, polemic, historical-scientific, phenomenological, and cosmopolitanism paradigms. The article highlights how each paradigm influenced the formation of the next and describes the most prominent representatives and their works. By examining these paradigms, the article provides Islamic studies researchers with new ideas and may serve as a starting point for future articles.