Annemarie Schimmel

Overview

Annemarie Schimmel born Erfurt, Thuringia, Germany April 7, 1922 (d. 2003). German orientalist scholar; Peace Prize of German Book Trade 1995 for her promotion of understanding of Islam; student of Sufi mysticism.

Quotations

“Judaism, Christianity, and Islam knew the ideal of eschatological peace where lion and lamb lie together in the time of the just ruler. But peace is nothing static. . . Peace too is a process of living growth which begins in each of us. The Muslim mystics considered the constant struggle with their lower qualities the real jihad: "the greater war in the way of God" and when their souls had finally reached peace they were capable of working for peace in the world.” (“A Good Word is Like a Good Tree” prize acceptance speech March 1996; photo ndeyeandujar.wordpress.com)