A New Trend Emerged in Recent Times

ISLAM IN WESTERN LITERATURE the subject continues to exert some influence even in contemporary times. In terms of his historical writings, Voltaire displayed more restraint than his works as a playwright. In his “Essai sur les mœurs et l’esprit des nations” (1756), he aligned with the emerging spirit of tolerance, drawing comparisons between Muhammad and Cromwell regarding fanaticism and courage. However, he attributed far greater accomplishments to Muhammad than to the Lord Protector of England (Cromwell). In contrast, his “tragedy Le Fanatisme, ou Mahomet le prophète” (1742) depicted the protagonist, dressed in medieval attire, as an impostor, tyrant, and libertine. Voltaire’s critique of Islam was a natural extension of his critique of religion. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that the Koran contains passages that may appear sublime. Voltaire relied on English sources, especially Sale’s translation of the Koran, as he had resided in England and acquired proficiency in the language. Goethe, the German poet (1749-1832), surpassed Voltaire in embracing the modern spirit and adopting a new international perspective. From an early stage in his life, Goethe was captivated by Oriental literary forms and themes, embarking on a poetic play based on Muhammad’s life, which he unfortunately never completed. As a man of letters, Goethe found it difficult to accept that the Prophet of Arabia was an impostor. His work “West-östlicher Divan” included a Latin translation of a pre-Islamic Arab ballad on vengeance. However, Persian literature truly