"The papers collected in this volume move from the abstract scheme of an intercultural humanism of the future to the concrete cultural express ions of different times up to the present. They concentrate mainly on three issues. The first is related to contemporary attempts to develop a humanist and historical hermeneutics of the Qur{u2019}an and of Islamic history. The second concerns the discussion about the humanist heritage and the humanitarian trends of Muslim religious and literary culture, and their significance for the history of Islamic Studies in Europe and merica. The third presents a case study on contemporary challenges to the European humanist position towards Islam posed by political communalism in Europe. In all of them, different concepts of humanism and their application are discussed. Taken together, they are appropriate to provide some ground for further productive discussions on the future of an intercultural humanism with respect to the Muslim world."--P. [4] of cover.