"Jews figure prominently in the history of the modern European encounter with Islam. The similarities between Hebrew and Arabic, the parallels between two faiths grounded in law, and the relative tolerance of Muslim rule toward Jews - all these are said to have permitted many Jews to approach Islam with an understanding and sympathy once uncommon in Europe." "Was there a "Jewish discovery of Islam," distinct from Europe's discovery? Is there some unifying characteristic to the approach of these Jewish "discoverers"? In this original volume, contributors assess the approaches to Islam of some of the most famous European Jewish travellers, writers, and scholars."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved