The European Quran

The Quran and Islam are traditionally viewed as a counterpoint to Europe's self-narrative of cultural achievements: Enlightenment, secularization, and religious tolerance. Some claim that Islam in general, and the Quran in particular, are foreign to European culture and political institutions. Developed as part of an EU-funded research project, this publication aims to counter this widespread opinion and retell the history of the Quran's role in the emergence of culture, religion, science, and politics in Europe. It discusses the role of the Quran in European history as well as the changes to the text through reproduction, translation, interpretation, and transmission both within and across the boundaries of language and faith. Look inside the book. Exhibition at the World Museum Vienna from September 18, 2024, to August 24, 2025.

What role does the holy scripture of Islam, the Quran, play in the history of European thought? How has it been read and understood since the first translations in the Middle Ages? The Quran and Islam are traditionally seen as an antithesis to Europe's self-narrative of cultural achievements: Enlightenment, secularization, and religious tolerance. Some assert that Islam in general, and the Quran in particular, are alien to European culture and political institutions. This publication seeks to challenge this popular belief and tell a different story by documenting the role the Quran has played in shaping culture, religion, science, and politics in Europe. Look inside the book. Exhibition at the World Museum Vienna from September 18, 2024, to August 24, 2025.