The Editors : Michael Glünz was born in Dauchingen (Germany) in 1954. Studies at the Universities of Basle and Berne 1974-1986, assistant (wiss. Assistent) with the Department of Islamic Studies of the University of Berne 1980-90, since 1990 independent researcher with the Swiss National Science Foundation.J. Christoph Bürgel was born in Gottesberg (Silesia, Germany) in 1931, Studies at the Universities of Frankfurt, Ankara and Göttingen, assistant and senior lecturer at Göttingen 1960-70, since 1970 head of the Department of Islamic Studies of the University of Berne.