Schimmel and Islam

Orientalism and Islamology in the acadmic spheres of the world have alwaysencountered by different reactions of the East. Some consider the scholars of suchdisciplines as the political collaborators of their respective governments in pursuingcolonial purposes. Some others regard the Orientalists as adversaries. Still others,including Annemari Schimmel, believe that the East and the west are inseparable.This paper in the first place recognizes three kinds of approaches in Orientalism: thefirst approach to the East is based on such books as “the Arabian Nights”; thesecond approach is through the study of theology and Abrahamic religions, and thethird one is conjoined with absorption and love, which is adopted by Schimmel.Then, it proceeds to introduce her approach to Islam and the features o her Islamicstudies.