Sunday, October 20, 2013
In these critical times nothing could be more valuable for the west than a rediscovery of its true spiritual: books which were once the treasures of people are now rare and little known. “ Seyyed Hossein Nasr.
God is the light of the heaven and earth
The light like the light of a lamp in a niche
The lamp enclosed in a corner of glass
The glass like a glistening star
Kindled from the oil of blessed tree
An olive not of the East not of the West
Its oil glows forth nearly without the touch of fire.
Qur’an 24:35
The first centuries of Islam saw the development of Sufism as one of the world’s major mystical traditions. Although the later Sufi writings by mystics such as Rumi are known and available in translation, access to the crucial early period of Islamic mysticism has been far more limited.
This volume opens with an essay on the place of spirituality within the Islamic traditions. Immediately following are the foundation texts of the Pre-Sufi spirituality the Qur’an passages most important to the mystical tradition; the accounts of Prophet Muhammad’s heavenly ascent (Mi’raj); and the crucial work of early poets in setting a poetic sensibility for speaking of union with the Divine Beloved.
The volume then presents the sayings attributed to the key early figures of Islamic spirituality :Ja’far al- Sadiq the sixth Imam of the Shi’ite Tradition; Rabi’a the most famous woman saint of classical Islam; Muhasibi, the founder of Islamic moral psychology; Bistami, whose sayings on mystical union have generated fascination and controversy throughout the Islamic tradition. Tustari, apioneer in the mystical interpretation of the Qur’an; Junayd, who helped place Sufi mysticism at the centre of the Islamic traditions; Hallaj, famous for his ecstatic utterances and martyrdom and Niffari, whose sayings are considered among the deepest mystical expressions within Islam.
The sayings of these pioneers are embedded in the later stratum of analytical and synoptic writings of later Sufi thinkers: Sarraj: Sulami, Qushayri, and Attar. Extensive portions of these writers are translated into English for the first time.
Michael A Sells is Emily Judson Baugh and John Marshell Gest Professor of Comparative Religions at Haverford College & Chairperson of the Haverford Department of Religions. He served in the Peace Corps in Tunisia and studied Arabic language and literature in Egypt. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1982. His research interests are Arabic poetry, the Qur’an, Islamic spirituality and Western mysticism.
Dr. Sells is a founder and president of the Community of Bosnia Foundation, dedicated to supporting a multi religious Bosnia- Herzegovina.
Book: Mysticism – Sufi, Quran, Poetic & Theological Writings
Translated by: Michale A. Sells
ISBN: 978-81-8339-061-3
Language: English
Price: INR 1095/US$ 33.95 (Shipping/Courier Charges Extra)
For order contact - Utpal Kaul (Please SMS - +91-9818447636)
Email: utpalpublications@gmail.com
