Goethe and Iqbal: a civilizational dialogue between east and west

Abdul Razak, Mohd Abbas (2026) Goethe and Iqbal: a civilizational dialogue between east and west. IslamiCity, NA (NA). pp. 1-4.

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Abstract

In the West, among the many who foresaw the decline of Western civilisation was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832). As a man well-read in Eastern mysticism, Goethe appreciated the spiritual awakening and poetic wisdom shared by the East. Getting inspired by the works of Hafez Shirazi (1315–1390), Goethe came up with his own work, West–östlicher Divan (“West-Eastern Divan”). This masterpiece by Goethe was first published in 1819, and later, in 1827, the world saw the extended version of the book. In this book, Goethe, the German poet-philosopher, tried to convey to the world that the West and East could meet and initiate a civilizational dialogue through the intermediary of the great works of their intelligentsia in the areas of philosophy, literature, poetry, and spirituality. Goethe’s proposal did not come out of nowhere, but rather as a response to what he saw as the decline of Western civilization. Very precisely, during his time, he saw that much of the enthusiasm and momentum of the Renaissance and Enlightenment movements of Europe were slowly diminishing. Besides that, he also felt empathetic towards the East. Goethe resented the subjugation of the East and the colonial policy of usurping its wealth by the West. In lamenting the moral decline of the West, through West–östlicher Divan, Goethe called upon the East to inspire and enlighten the West.

Item Type:	Article (Bulletin)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Goethe, Iqbal, Civilizational Dialogue, the East, the West
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP170.8 Universality of Islam
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Fundamental and Inter-Disciplinary Studies (Effective: 5th Feb 2014) Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences
Depositing User:	Dr. Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak
Date Deposited:	23 Jun 2026 12:21
Last Modified:	23 Jun 2026 12:21
Queue Number:	2026-06-Q3743
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/129443

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