Ignác Goldziher

Ignác Goldziher was a Hungarian orientalist and scholar of Islam, recognized as a founder of modern Islamic studies in Europe. His scholarship centered on meticulous investigations into pre-Islamic and Islamic law, tradition, religion, and poetry. He posited that Islam continuously developed as a civilization, actively exchanging ideas with other cultures, a perspective that remains influential. Beyond his extensive scholarly works, Goldziher also kept a personal journal documenting his reflections and travels, which was later published.