Joseph Schacht

Quick Facts: Who was Joseph Schacht?

Subject:

Joseph Schacht

Known for:

Pioneering scholar who revolutionized the understanding of early Islamic law and Hadith.

Born:

1902-04-15

Died:

1969-08-01

Century / Era:

1902s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Joseph Franz Schacht (German pronunciation: [ˈjoːzɛf ʃaxt] , 15 March 1902 – 1 August 1969) was a British-German professor of Arabic and Islam at Columbia University in New York. He was the leading Western scholar in the areas of Islamic law and hadith studies, whose Origins of Muhammadan Jurisprudence (1950) is still considered a centrally important work on the subject. The author of many articles in the first and second editions of the Encyclopaedia of Islam, Schacht also co-edited the second edition of The Legacy of Islam and authored a textbook titled An Introduction to Islamic Law (1964). Schacht was born into a Catholic family but, with a zeal for study, became at an early age a student in a Hebrew school. In Breslau and Leipzig he studied Semitic languages, Greek, and Latin, under professors including Gotthelf Bergsträßer.

Career & Major Achievements

In 1924 he published his Habilitations-Schrift, Das kitab al-hiial fil-fiqh (Buch d. Rechtskniffe) des abū Hātim Mahmūd ibn al-Hasan al-Qazuīnī, with translation and commentary. In 1925 he obtained his first academic position at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg in Breisgau. In 1927 he became there a professor extraordinarius, making him the youngest professor in all of Germany, and in 1929 a professor ordinarius of Semitic languages. In 1932 he was appointed a professor at the University of Königsberg.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

But in 1934, without being directly threatened or persecuted, Schacht, as a strong opponent of the Nazi regime, went to Cairo, where he taught until 1939 as a professor. At the outbreak of World War II in 1939, he happened to be in England, where he offered his services to the British government and worked for the BBC. In 1947 he became a British citizen. Schacht taught at Oxford University from 1946. In 1954 he moved to the Netherlands and taught at the University of Leiden.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1902 (1902-04-15): Birth of Joseph Schacht — Pioneering scholar who revolutionized the understanding of early Islamic law and Hadith.
2. 1924: 1924 Milestone — In 1924 he published his Habilitations-Schrift, Das kitab al-hiial fil-fiqh (Buch d.
3. 1925: 1925 Milestone — In 1925 he obtained his first academic position at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg in Breisgau.
4. 1927: 1927 Milestone — In 1927 he became there a professor extraordinarius, making him the youngest professor in all of Germany, and in 1929 a professor ordinarius of Semitic languages.
5. 1932: 1932 Milestone — In 1932 he was appointed a professor at the University of Königsberg.
6. 1934: 1934 Milestone — But in 1934, without being directly threatened or persecuted, Schacht, as a strong opponent of the Nazi regime, went to Cairo, where he taught until 1939 as a professor.
7. 1939: 1939 Milestone — At the outbreak of World War II in 1939, he happened to be in England, where he offered his services to the British government and worked for the BBC.
8. 1946: 1946 Milestone — Schacht taught at Oxford University from 1946.
9. 1947: 1947 Milestone — In 1947 he became a British citizen.
10. 1950: 1950 Milestone — He was the leading Western scholar in the areas of Islamic law and hadith studies, whose Origins of Muhammadan Jurisprudence (1950) is still considered a centrally important work on the subject.
11. 1954: 1954 Milestone — In 1954 he moved to the Netherlands and taught at the University of Leiden.
12. 1964: 1964 Milestone — The author of many articles in the first and second editions of the Encyclopaedia of Islam, Schacht also co-edited the second edition of The Legacy of Islam and authored a textbook titled An Introduction to Islamic Law (1964).
13. 1969 (1969-08-01): Passing & Historical Legacy — Joseph Schacht passed away on 1969-08-01, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Notable Quotes by Joseph Schacht

“The most important of the schools of Islamic law developed in Kufa in Mesopotamia, according to Schacht's research.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Joseph Schacht

True or False: “Schacht argued that the development of Islamic jurisprudence followed a direct chronological path from Muhammad through his Companions.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): He argued instead that law arose historically from three different 'sunnas' operating in parallel during the Umayyad Caliphate.

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• 1902 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1902
• April 15 (04-15) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 15
• 1969 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1969
• August 1 (08-01) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on August 1

Frequently Asked Questions about Joseph Schacht