PROGRESS OF ISLAMIC SCIENCE 505 



only pointed out, in his Life and Doctrine of Mohammed (1861-65), 

 the importance of the traditions as an historical source, but also 

 gave many hints for their critical use; an attempt, it is true, which 

 has not removed altogether all credulity in the reconstruction of 

 the ancient history of Islam. Since the great storehouse of the his- 

 torical work of Tabari became universally accessible in a completed 

 edition, masters of historical and philological criticism, like Noldeke, 

 de Goeje, Wellhausen, 1 and their followers, have given us examples 

 how we can gain from the narratives gathered by Tabari, and which 

 often represent the events from different points of view, by com- 

 paring them with other data, an historical stratification of sources 

 which can be used to construct real history. 



But here we have to do only with religious tradition, and we 

 have to bring out how the criticism of the traditions now more and 

 more prevalent makes for a progress in Islamic science not to be 

 underestimated. In spite of the radically skeptical tendency, which is 

 imposed on it as a duty by its scheme, its method has proved to be 

 a good means to lead to a positive history of the early development of 

 Islam. 



With the sources of Islamic law our view of the law itself must 

 stand in the closest connection. About that also we have a few 

 words to say. 



IV 



The idea formed about these matters, which are generally consid- 

 ered the zenith of Islamic spirit, has undergone a total change in the 

 last few decades. 



No later than two centuries after the birth of Islam, in the first 

 half of the ninth century of our era, we find a well-developed and 

 thoroughly elaborated system of Islamic law, which has been long 

 considered the ripe fruit of Arabian genius. 



This prejudice is now altogether removed, the more so, since we 

 have learned how much this system owes to Roman law, not only 

 in its particular regulations, but also, which is far more important, 

 with regard to questions of principle in methodology. The Arabic 

 names themselves of the Islamic science of law and of its authorities, 



1 M. J. cle Goeje, Memoire de la Conquite de la Syrie (Leide, 1900) [Mcmoires 

 d'Histoire et de Geographic Orientates, no. 2, new edition]. J. Wellhausen. Pro- 

 legomena zur dltesten Geschichte des Islam [Skizzen und Vorarbeiten, vi]; the 

 same: Das arabische Reich und sein Sturz (Berlin, 1902). 



Our knowledge of the situation under the Muhammadan conquest with regard 

 to the native Christians, especially in Egypt, and in general about the system of 

 administration and economy in the primary Islamic state, has been, after the 

 standard works of Alfred v. Kremer, considerably promoted by the study of the 

 Vienna Papyrus documents (Archduke Rainer), in whose examination Professor 

 v. Karabacek has led (Mittheilungen, Vienna, 1886 ff). We may hope that a 

 further increase of our knowledge will be gained from the treasures acquired 

 lately by Heidelberg University. 



