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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Non-Christian sacred works & liturgy > Sacred texts > General
Winner of the Herbert Baxter Adams Prize A Longman-History Today
Book Prize Finalist A Sheik Zayed Book Award Finalist Winner of the
Thomas J. Wilson Memorial Prize A Times Literary Supplement Book of
the Year "Deeply thoughtful...A delight."-The Economist "[A] tour
de force...Bevilacqua's extraordinary book provides the first true
glimpse into this story...He, like the tradition he describes, is a
rarity." -New Republic In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries,
a pioneering community of Western scholars laid the groundwork for
the modern understanding of Islamic civilization. They produced the
first accurate translation of the Qur'an, mapped Islamic arts and
sciences, and wrote Muslim history using Arabic sources. The
Republic of Arabic Letters is the first account of this riveting
lost period of cultural exchange, revealing the profound influence
of Catholic and Protestant intellectuals on the Enlightenment
understanding of Islam. "A closely researched and engrossing study
of...those scholars who, having learned Arabic, used their mastery
of that difficult language to interpret the Quran, study the career
of Muhammad...and introduce Europeans to the masterpieces of Arabic
literature." -Robert Irwin, Wall Street Journal "Fascinating,
eloquent, and learned, The Republic of Arabic Letters reveals a
world later lost, in which European scholars studied Islam with a
sense of affinity and respect...A powerful reminder of the ability
of scholarship to transcend cultural divides, and the capacity of
human minds to accept differences without denouncing them." -Maya
Jasanoff "What makes his study so groundbreaking, and such a joy to
read, is the connection he makes between intellectual history and
the material history of books." -Financial Times
At last, an edition of the Bhagavad Gita that speaks with
unprecedented fidelity and clarity. It contains an unusually
informative introduction, the Sanskrit text of the Bhandarkar
Oriental Research Institute's critical edition, an accurate and
accessible English translation, a comprehensive glossary of names
and epithets, and a thorough index.
The Records of Mazu and the Making of Classical Chan Literature
explores the growth, makeup, and transformation of Chan (Zen)
Buddhist literature in late medieval China. The volume analyzes the
earliest extant records about the life, teachings, and legacy of
Mazu Daoyi (709-788), the famous leader of the Hongzhou School and
one of the principal figures in Chan history. While some of the
texts covered are well-known and form a central part of classical
Chan (or more broadly Buddhist) literature in China, others have
been largely ignored, forgotten, or glossed over until recently.
Poceski presents a range of primary materials important for the
historical study of Chan Buddhism, some translated for the first
time into English or other Western language. He surveys the
distinctive features and contents of particular types of texts, and
analyzes the forces, milieus, and concerns that shaped key
processes of textual production during this period. Although his
main focus is on written sources associated with a celebrated Chan
tradition that developed and rose to prominence during the Tang era
(618-907), Poceski also explores the Five Dynasties (907-960) and
Song (960-1279) periods, when many of the best-known Chan
collections were compiled. Exploring the Chan School's creative
adaptation of classical literary forms and experimentation with
novel narrative styles, The Records of Mazu and the Making of
Classical Chan Literature traces the creation of several
distinctive Chan genres that exerted notable influence on the
subsequent development of Buddhism in China and the rest of East
Asia.
What can man know about God? This question became one of the main
problems during the 4th-century Trinitarian controversy, which is
the focus of this book. Especially during the second phase of the
conflict, the claims of Anomean Eunomius caused an emphatic
response of Orthodox writers, mainly Basil of Caesarea and Gregory
of Nyssa. Eunomius formulated two ways of theology to show that we
can know both the substance (ousia) and activities (energeiai) of
God. The Orthodox Fathers demonstrated that we can know only the
external activities of God, while the essence is entirely
incomprehensible. Therefore the 4th-century discussion on whether
the Father and the Son are of the same substance was the turning
point in the development of negative theology and shaping the
Christian conception of God.
This book explores how medieval and modern Muslim religious
scholars ('ulama') interpret gender roles in Qur'anic verses on
legal testimony, marriage, and human creation. Citing these verses,
medieval scholars developed increasingly complex laws and
interpretations upholding a male-dominated gender hierarchy;
aspects of their interpretations influence religious norms and
state laws in Muslim-majority countries today, yet other aspects
have been discarded entirely. Karen Bauer traces the evolution of
their interpretations, showing how they have been adopted, adapted,
rejected, or replaced over time, by comparing the Qur'an with a
wide range of Qur'anic commentaries and interviews with prominent
religious scholars from Iran and Syria. At times, tradition is
modified in unexpected ways: learned women argue against gender
equality, or Grand Ayatollahs reject sayings of the Prophet, citing
science instead. This innovative and engaging study highlights the
effects of social and intellectual contexts on the formation of
tradition, and on modern responses to it.
This unique work takes a method of textual analysis commonly used
in studies of ancient Western and Eastern manuscripts and applies
it to twenty-one early Qur'an manuscripts. Keith Small analyzes a
defined portion of text from the Qur'an with two aims in view: to
recover the earliest form of text for this portion, and to trace
the historical development of this portion to the current form of
the text of the Qur'an. Small concludes that though a significantly
early edited form of the consonantal text of the Qur'an can be
recovered, its original forms of text cannot be obtained. He also
documents the further editing that was required to record the
Arabic text of the Qur'an in a complete phonetic script, as well as
providing an explanation for much of the development of various
recitation systems of the Qur'an. This controversial,
thought-provoking book provides a rigorous examination into the
history of the Qur'an and will be of great interest to Quranic
Studies scholars.
Fakhr al-Din Razi's "Tafsir", "The Great Exegesis', also known as
"Mafatih al-Ghayb", is one of the great classics of Arabic and
Islamic scholarship. Written in the twelfth century, this
commentary on the Qur'an has remained until today an indispensable
reference work. "The Great Exegesis" is a compendium not only of
Qur'anic sciences and meanings, but also Arabic linguistics,
comparative jurisprudence, Aristotelian and Islamic philosophy,
dialectic theology and the spirituality of Sufism.---The present
volume is the first ever translation into English from "The Great
Exegesis" and focuses on the first chapter of the Qur'an, the
"Fatiha". This scholarly yet accessible translation gives readers a
thorough understanding of the most commonly recited chapter of the
Qur'an; it also opens up for readers a window into the thought and
practice of one of Islam's greatest theologians. This volume
includes a foreword by Professor M.A.S. Abdel Haleem, King Fahd
Professor of Islamic Studies, University of London.
Luminous Essence is a complete introduction to the world of tantric
thought and practice. Composed by the renowned Tibetan master
Jamgon Mipham (1846-1912), the text provides an overview of the
theory and experiential assimilation of a seminal tantric
scripture, the Tantra of the Secret Essence (Guhyagarbha Tantra).
Embodying the essence of tantric practice, this text has been a
central scripture in Tibetan Buddhism for well over a thousand
years. Mipham's explanation of this text, here translated for the
first time, is one of the most celebrated commentaries on the
Tantra of the Secret Essence, which today occupies an important
place in the tantric curriculum of Tibetan monastic colleges.
Luminous Essence is a specialized guide meant for initiated tantric
practitioners. To fully appreciate and assimilate its message, it
should be studied under the guidance of a qualified teacher by
those who have received the appropriate empowerments, reading
transmissions, and oral instructions.
The Owner's Manual to the Soul is a summary of the spiritual
service that God asks of us as described in traditional Jewish
texts. By learning and applying the teachings in this book, one
will then be ready for the "light" of Kabbalistic meditation.
This multi-volume series offers fresh perspectives on the
individual characters of the sages (Hazal), the historical contexts
in which they lived, and the creativity they brought to the pursuit
of Jewish wisdom. Volume II covers the period from Yavne to the Bar
Kokhba Revolt. Published in cooperation with Beit Morasha.
An essential companion to a timeless spiritual classic The Lotus
Sutra is among the most venerated scriptures of Buddhism. Composed
in India some two millennia ago, it asserts the potential for all
beings to attain supreme enlightenment. Donald Lopez and Jacqueline
Stone provide an essential reading companion to this inspiring yet
enigmatic masterpiece, explaining how it was understood by its
compilers in India and, centuries later in medieval Japan, by one
of its most influential proponents. In this illuminating
chapter-by-chapter guide, Lopez and Stone show how the sutra's
anonymous authors skillfully reframed the mainstream Buddhist
tradition in light of a new vision of the path and the person of
the Buddha himself, and examine how the sutra's metaphors,
parables, and other literary devices worked to legitimate that
vision. They go on to explore how the Lotus was interpreted by the
Japanese Buddhist master Nichiren (1222-1282), whose inspired
reading of the book helped to redefine modern Buddhism. In doing
so, Lopez and Stone demonstrate how readers of sacred works
continually reinterpret them in light of their own unique
circumstances. An invaluable guide to an incomparable spiritual
classic, this book unlocks the teachings of the Lotus for modern
readers while providing insights into the central importance of
commentary as the vehicle by which ancient writings are given
contemporary meaning.
The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies innovatively combines the ways
in which scholars from fields as diverse as philosophy, psychology,
religious studies, literary studies, history, sociology,
anthropology, political science, and economics have integrated the
study of Sikhism within a wide range of critical and postcolonial
perspectives on the nature of religion, violence, gender,
ethno-nationalism, and revisionist historiography. A number of
essays within this collection also provide a more practical
dimension, written by artists and practitioners of the tradition.
The handbook is divided into eight thematic sections that explore
different 'expressions' of Sikhism. Historical, literary,
ideological, institutional, and artistic expressions are considered
in turn, followed by discussion of Sikhs in the Diaspora, and of
caste and gender in the Panth. Each section begins with an essay by
a prominent scholar in the field, providing an overview of the
topic. Further essays provide detail and further treat the fluid,
multivocal nature of both the Sikh past and the present. The
handbook concludes with a section considering future directions in
Sikh Studies.
'Read! Your Lord is the Most Bountiful one who taught by the pen,
who taught man what he did not know.' The Qur'an, believed by
Muslims to be the word of God, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad
1400 years ago. It is the supreme authority in Islam and the living
source of all Islamic teaching; it is a sacred text and a book of
guidance, that sets out the creed, rituals, ethics, and laws of the
Islamic religion. It has been one of the most influential books in
the history of literature. Recognized as the greatest literary
masterpiece in Arabic, it has nevertheless remained difficult to
understand in its English translations. This new translation is
written in a contemporary idiom that remains faithful to the
original, making it easy to read while retaining its powers of
eloquence. Archaisms and cryptic language are avoided, and the
Arabic meaning preserved by respecting the context of the
discourse. The message of the Qur'an was directly addressed to all
people regardless of class, gender, or age, and this translation is
equally accessible to everyone. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100
years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range
of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume
reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most
accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including
expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to
clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and
much more.
Most scholars believe that the numerous similarities between the
Covenant Code (Exodus 20:23-23:19) and Mesopotamian law
collections, especially the Laws of Hammurabi, which date to around
1750 BCE, are due to oral tradition that extended from the second
to the first millennium. This book offers a fundamentally new
understanding of the Covenant Code, arguing that it depends
directly and primarily upon the Laws of Hammurabi and that the use
of this source text occurred during the Neo-Assyrian period,
sometime between 740-640 BCE, when Mesopotamia exerted strong and
continuous political and cultural influence over the kingdoms of
Israel and Judah and a time when the Laws of Hammurabi were
actively copied in Mesopotamia as a literary-canonical text. The
study offers significant new evidence demonstrating that a model of
literary dependence is the only viable explanation for the work. It
further examines the compositional logic used in transforming the
source text to produce the Covenant Code, thus providing a
commentary to the biblical composition from the new theoretical
perspective. This analysis shows that the Covenant Code is
primarily a creative academic work rather than a repository of laws
practiced by Israelites or Judeans over the course of their
history. The Covenant Code, too, is an ideological work, which
transformed a paradigmatic and prestigious legal text of Israel's
and Judah's imperial overlords into a statement symbolically
countering foreign hegemony. The study goes further to study the
relationship of the Covenant Code to the narrative of the book of
Exodus and explores how this may relate to the development of the
Pentateuch as a whole.
The book of Esther was a conscious reaction to much of the
conventional wisdom of its day, challenging beliefs regarding the
Jerusalem Temple, the land of Israel, Jewish law, and even God.
Aaron Koller identifies Esther as primarily a political work, and
shows that early reactions ranged from ignoring the book to
'rewriting' Esther in order to correct its perceived flaws. But few
biblical books have been read in such different ways, and the vast
quantity of Esther-interpretation in rabbinic literature indicates
a conscious effort by the Rabbis to present Esther as a story of
faith and traditionalism, and bring it into the fold of the grand
biblical narrative. Koller situates Esther, and its many
interpretations, within the intellectual and political contexts of
Ancient Judaism, and discusses its controversial themes. His
innovative line of enquiry will be of great interest to students
and scholars of Bible and Jewish studies.
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Sahih Muslim (Volume 6)
(Paperback)
Abul-Husain Muslim; Introduction by Imam Nawawi; Notes by Imam Nawawi; Edited by Adil Salahi
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Imam Nawawi's commentary on Sahih Muslim is one of the most highly
regarded works in Islamic thought and literature. Accepted by every
sunni school of thought, and foundational in the Shaafi school,
this text, available for the first time in English, is famed
throughout the Muslim world. After the Qur'an, the prophetic
traditions are the most recognised source of wisdom in Islam.
Amongst the collected Hadith, Sahih Muslim is second only to the
the collection of Imam Bukhari. With a commentary by Imam Nawawi,
whose other works are amongst the most widely-read books on Islam,
and translated by Adil Salahi, a modern scholar of great acclaim,
this immense work, finally available to English readers, is an
essential addition to every Muslim library, and for anybody with an
interest in Islamic thought.
The impact of earlier works to the literature of early Judaism is
an intensively researched topic in contemporary scholarship. This
volume is based on an international conference held at the
Sapientia College of Theology in Budapest,May 18 -21, 2010. The
contributors explore scriptural authority in early Jewish
literature and the writings of nascent Christianity. They study the
impact of earlier literature in the formulation of theological
concepts and books of the Second Temple Period.
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