Subject Information
Islamic/ Arabic Studies
Overview
Contact
This link leads to a list of all the subjects this person oversees.
Here you find the contact information of the above-mentioned person.
This link leads to a list of all the subjects this person oversees.
Here you find the contact information of the above-mentioned person.
Library Holdings and Acquisitions
Including the holdings of the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, the DMG library as well as the acquisitions of the SSG and the FID, the University and State Library was able to compile one of the largest and most extensive collections on the so-called MENA region and Islam. The focus originally lay on linguistics and literary studies as well as religious studies, but since 1998 also humanities and social sciences related to the Middle East and North Africa region have been included.
In addition to printed works (the majority in the languages of the MENA region), the ULB also offers access to numerous electronic sources via open access.
Gaps in the holdings of Western secondary literature, stemming from the period between 1945 and 1990, are consistently being filled should they prove to be of particular importance for current teaching and research. The current collection foci are aligned with the prevailing profile of university teaching and also include recently published Western secondary literature. Teaching and introductory works are available in German or English. The FID, on the other hand,mainly acquires literature written in the languages of the MENA region.
Finding and Using
Titles related to Arabic and Islamic studies are mainly located in stacks at the Branch Library Middle East/Ethnology and therefore have to be ordered via Ha:lit. When researching titles in non-Latin scripts, please be aware of the transcription regulations applied in the German library system. The lending of requested media is taking place at the circulation desk of the Branch Library Steintor-Campus. Apart from a few exceptions, the holdings can be borrowed freely. Additionally, there is an area containing general reference works and dictionaries shelved in the reading room of the Branch Library Middle East / Ethnology.
Website of the FID Middle East, North Africa and Islamic Studies
The subject portal Menalib provides an overview of the various services offered by the FID as well as research access points for printed and electronically available works on Arabic, Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies acquired by the FID.
Consultation and Training Services
Library introductions, training courses for literature research and literature management systems as well as consultations on publication strategies and research data management take place at regular intervals.
Collection of Subject-Relevant Links
Electronically available journals relating to Islamic Studies are indexed in the Electronic Journals Library (EZB).
Electronically available journals relating to Arabic Studies are indexed in the Electronic Journals Library (EZB).
There are numerous specialized databases available for researching information as well as literature on Arabic and Islamic Studies. These are researchable via the Database Information System (DBIS).
All databases, both unlimited and trial access, acquired by the FID, are accessible via Menalib.
Please remember to activate the VPN connection when researching outside of reach of the university wifi.
History and Profiling of the Subject
The study of oriental languages at the MLU dates back to its founding phase, though it is noteworthy, that Semitic languages, such as Hebrew, were predominantly taught for supporting Bible exegesis in theology until the 19th century. In the early 19th century, the then so-called area of Oriental Studies liberated itself from its close ties to theology and initially focused on the philological study of Semitic languages. Meanwhile, the Arabic language increasingly came to the fore. Due to the establishment of the Library of the German Oriental Society (DMG) in Halle, the stock of available Arabic, Persian and Turkish literature grew considerably towards the end of the 19th century. After famous Semitist Carl Brockelmann was appointed to the chair of Semitic Studies in 1910, the Oriental Seminar was officially established at the University of Halle in 1918. Today, the Institute of Oriental Studies is comprised of several seminars, including the Seminar for Arabic and Islamic Studies, whereby in teaching, the focus lies not only on Arabic, but also on Persian and Turkish. Since 1998, the seminar has benefited from the extensive acquisitions and services offered by the Special Subject Collection (SSG) Middle East incl. North Africa (1998-2015) as well as its successor, the Specialised Information Service (FID) Middle East, North Africa and Islamic Studies (since 2016), which is maintained by the ULB.
