• A major work on the encounter between East and West

Allah’s Sun over the West is a landmark book by the German scholar Sigrid Hunke. Through rigorous research and eloquent prose, she demonstrates that the brilliance of Arab-Islamic civilization played a decisive role in Europe’s intellectual awakening. While medieval Europe was plunged into darkness, the Muslim world was flourishing through science, philosophy, and medicine. Thus, the discoveries of Arab scholars nourished the Renaissance and helped build the foundations of modern civilization.

• An in-depth study of Arab sciences

Hunke highlights how Muslim scholars advanced mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, and medicine. She evokes major figures whose works and translations enlightened European universities. Consequently, Allah’s Sun over the West illustrates the intellectual continuity linking great Arab centers — Baghdad, Cordoba, Damascus — to Europe’s hubs of knowledge. Moreover, the author shows how this influence extended to architecture, poetry, music, and philosophy, reflecting a universal and open-minded culture.

• A humanistic and reconciliatory vision

More than a historical essay, this French book offers a profound reflection on mutual recognition between civilizations. By emphasizing peaceful exchanges between East and West, Sigrid Hunke reminds readers that science and culture transcend religious and geographical boundaries. Therefore, Allah’s Sun over the West is not merely a study of the past but an invitation to restore mutual respect and appreciation among peoples. The author demonstrates that Europe owes part of its intellectual identity to the wisdom and curiosity of the Muslim world.

“Refer to the book Allah’s Sun over the West, or The Sun of Islam over the West, or, in its latest altered title, The Sun of the Arabs over the West, by Sigrid Hunke. She is an impartial German woman who wrote in this book what every educated Muslim should reflect upon — the civilization of his ancestors — so as not to succumb to moral defeat. All that happened is that we stopped at a certain point; others came, took the lead, and moved forward — while we remained stagnant. Now, we are being convinced that we belong neither here nor there, and that we have no share in science or civilization. Yet, the founders of knowledge in every field of learning were from among us — we were plundered, indeed, we were robbed.”

— Shaykh Muhammad Saʿîd Raslân

• A reference for understanding the transmission of knowledge

Clear, thorough, and accessible, Allah’s Sun over the West restores justice to centuries of scientific and cultural exchange between the Arab-Islamic world and Europe. It sheds light on Europe’s cultural debt to its Eastern roots while inspiring readers to rediscover the universal values of knowledge, tolerance, and humanism. This remarkable French book remains an essential reference for anyone seeking to understand the history of civilizations and the truth about the shared heritage between Islam and the West.