Nietzsche and Islam

In the light of current events, particularly the debates following September 11th, with a focus on the 'clash of civilization' thesis, the issue of Islamic identity is a crucial one. Friedrich Nietzsche, addressing audiences of a different culture and era, offers insights that can be relevant today. His originality, creativity, psychological, philological, and historical perspectives allow for a fresh understanding of Islam within the context of the modern era. This work explores why Nietzsche felt inclined to be generous towards the Islamic tradition while critical of Western Christianity, the importance of religion in his views on moral and political philosophy, and how his outlook and methodology can help us understand key Islamic paradigms such as the Qur’an, the Prophet, and the ‘Rightly-Guided’ Caliphs. The book provides an original perspective on Nietzsche’s views on religion and demonstrates how his philosophy can contribute to discussions on Islam's paradigms. It covers topics including the background to the clash of civilizations, terms like the historical versus the transhistorical, Nietzsche’s religiosity, and the Qur’anic paradigm, among others.