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Books > Religion & Spirituality > Aspects of religions (non-Christian) > Religious experience > Mysticism
This book presents an intellectual history of today's Muslim world,
surveying contemporary Muslim thinking in its various
manifestations, addressing a variety of themes that impact on the
lives of present-day Muslims. Focusing on the period from roughly
the late 1960s to the first decade of the twenty-first century, the
book is global in its approach and offers an overview of different
strands of thought and trends in the development of new ideas,
distinguishing between traditional, reactionary, and progressive
approaches. It presents a variety of themes and issues including:
The continuing relevance of the legacy of traditional Islamic
learning as well as the use of reason; the centrality of the
Qur'an; the spiritual concerns of contemporary Muslims; political
thought regarding secularity, statehood, and governance; legal and
ethical debates; related current issues like human rights, gender
equality, and religious plurality; as well as globalization,
ecology and the environment, bioethics, and life sciences. An
alternative account of Islam and the Muslim world today,
counterbalancing narratives that emphasise politics and
confrontations with the West, this book is an essential resource
for students and scholars of Islam.
The enigmatic kabbalist Samuel Falk, known as the Ba'al Shem of
London, has piqued the curiosity of scholars for enerations.
Eighteenth-century London was fascinated by Jews, and as a
miracle-worker and adventurer, well connected and well read, Falk
had much to offer. Interest in the man was further aroused by
rumours of his dealings with European aristocrats and other famous
characters, as well as with scholars, Freemasons, and Shabbateans,
but evidence was scanty. Michal Oron has now brought together all
the known source material on the man, and her detailed annotations
of his diary and that of his assistant give us rich insights into
his activities over several years. We learn of his meetings and his
travels; his finances; his disputes, his dreams, and his remedies;
and lists of his books. We see London's social life and commerce,
its landed gentry and its prisons, and what people ate, wore, and
possessed. The burgeoning Jewish community of London and its
religious practices, as well as its communal divisiveness, is
depicted especially colourfully. The scholarly introductions by
Oron and by Todd Endelman and the informative appendices help
contextualize the diaries and offer an intriguing glimpse of Jewish
involvement in little-known aspects of London life at the threshold
of the modern era.
"Al-Ghazali on Conduct in Travel" is a translation of the
seventeenth book of the "Revival of the Religious Sciences" (Ihya
Ulum al-Din), which is widely regarded as the greatest work of
Muslim spirituality. In "Al-Ghazali on Conduct in Travel", Abu
Hamid al-Ghazali uncovers, as elsewhere in the "Revival", the
mystical and religious dimension of one of humanity's most basic
needs: in this instance, travel.---In Chapter One, Ghazali begins
by providing the reader with the four reasons for travel, which
include for the quest for knowledge and to flee from harm and
danger. The advantages gained from travelling are also described by
Ghazali-for example, the disciplining of the soul through exposure
to the harsh conditions of travel as well as the acquisition of
virtue and self-knowledge. Ghazali then explains what the seven
proper conducts of travels-both outward conduct and inward
conduct-consist of. In Chapter Two, Ghazali provides a practical
chapter on the use of religious concessions while travelling, and
concludes with a final chapter on how the traveller is to establish
the proper direction and times for prayer. "Al-Ghazali on Conduct
in Travel" will be of interest to all those wishing to explore the
disciplining qualities of everyday activities applied here to the
spiritual dimension of travelling.---In this new edition, the
Islamic Texts Society has included the translation of Abu Hamid
al-Ghazali's own Introduction to the "Revival of the Religious
Sciences" which gives the reasons that caused him to write the
work, the structure of the whole of the Revival and places each of
the chapters in the context of the others.
A pathbreaking history of Sufism, from the earliest centuries of
Islam to the present After centuries as the most important
ascetic-mystical strand of Islam, Sufism saw a sharp decline in the
twentieth century, only to experience a stunning revival in recent
decades. In this comprehensive new history of Sufism from the
earliest centuries of Islam to today, Alexander Knysh, a leading
expert on the subject, reveals the tradition in all its richness.
Knysh explores how Sufism has been viewed by both insiders and
outsiders since its inception. He examines the key aspects of
Sufism, from definitions and discourses to leadership,
institutions, and practices. He devotes special attention to Sufi
approaches to the Qur'an, drawing parallels with similar uses of
scripture in Judaism and Christianity. He traces how Sufism grew
from a set of simple moral-ethical precepts into a sophisticated
tradition with professional Sufi masters (shaykhs) who became
powerful players in Muslim public life but whose authority was
challenged by those advocating the equality of all Muslims before
God. Knysh also examines the roots of the ongoing conflict between
the Sufis and their fundamentalist critics, the Salafis--a major
fact of Muslim life today. Based on a wealth of primary and
secondary sources, Sufism is an indispensable account of a vital
aspect of Islam.
From the bestselling author of Practical Magic comes an inspiring,
illustrated collection of magical celebrations of nature from
around the world-with rituals for incorporating them into your own
practice. Nature is what gives us life-it is the source of all
magic and power in the world. That is something that humans have
understood since the beginning of time, and it is a constant among
cultures around the world. However, the ways in which we celebrate
it can vary wildly. Bulgarian Baba Marta Day welcomes the arrival
of Spring with Martenitsas, little talismans of red and white
string, while in Southeast Asia, that same yearly event is
celebrated during Holi, a joyful, riotous dance of colors. Yalda,
Soyal, Saturnalia, Dong Zhi, and St.Lucia's Day (from Iran,
Arizona, Ancient Rome, China, and Scandinavia) are all very
different-but they all honor the Winter Solstice. Each of these
celebrations is a ritual, a form of magic created by community and
tradition. And while their differences can help us understand their
various cultural identities, their similarities can create a bond
that reaches across space and time. In this beautifully illustrated
book from bestselling magical author Nikki Van De Car readers will
learn the history and meaning behind 40 of these ritual
celebrations, organized by season. Each ritual will include
suggestions for participating in and appreciating these storied
rituals, while honoring their origins and the cultures from which
they come.
In this groundbreaking work of comparative religion, Algis
Uzdavinys takes us deeply into the "closed and blessed gardens of
myth," showing us the capital importance of the many varieties of
"ascent to heaven." From the Pyramid Texts down to Second Temple
Judaism and apocalyptic Christian literature; and, in parallel,
down the theurgic path of Platonic and Hermetic literature to the
sanctum of the Islamic revelation in Mecca, we are vividly
presented with the sacramental impact of anagoge: elevation to the
domain of the supernal archetypes and heavenly principles. As with
other books by the author, the face of antiquity is revealed anew,
full of intriguing, challenging and enraptured insights.
In the early period of Ancient Egyptian history, earlier than in
any other culture, before the Hindus, Buddhists, Kabbalists and
Taoists, there was a teaching of the TREE OF LIFE. This was a
special teaching describing the secret wisdom about the nature of
the universe and of the soul as well as a path to make the journey,
through varied phases of spiritual evolution, from mortal to
immortal and from earth to heaven and beyond. The goal is to regain
one's divine stature and transcendental place. In its earliest
form, originated in Ancient Egypt, it was related to theurgical
religious system developed in the priests and priestesses of the
Ancient Egyptian city of Anu and the Tree was seen as the source of
life. This book explains that teaching, which has been available to
all, but missed by those who did not possess the keys to unlock its
mystic formula. In this volume the Creation teaching of Anu, the
TREE OF LIFE metaphysical teachings, disciplines and techniques,
from the hieroglyphic texts, for activating the Tree, are given.
'Stations of the Sufi Path' is a new translation of a key Sufi text
and the first Persian work to address the stages, or stations, of
the Sufi way. Its author, Abdullah Ansari, was born in 1006 in
Herat in present-day Afghanistan, and is considered one of the
greatest as well as one of the earliest of the Persian Sufi
scholars whose works constitute an important contribution to the
intellectual history of Islam. Detailed descriptions of each
'station' make this work an esoteric masterpiece, now almost one
thousand years old, that invites the reader ona spiritual journey
of self-discovery.
Ibn al-Arabi's Fusus al-Hikam is a translation of one of the most
important works written on Islamic Mysticism. Muhyi al-Din Ibn
al-Arabi (1165-1240) is deemed the greatest mystic of Islam and his
mystical philosophy has attracted the attention of both Muslims and
non-Muslims from his time to the present day. Believing that the
world is the self- manifestation of God, he claimed that all
religions are equal and that the perfect human being is he who
knows all the religious phenomena in the world. Fusus al-hikam
examines the singular characteristics of twenty seven prophets of
Islam and constitutes the best summary of Ibn al-Arabi's thought.
The translation of these twenty seven chapters is preceded by an
introduction that explains the main ideas of Ibn al-Arabi and is
accompanied by explanatory notes to the text. Providing an easily
accessible translation of one of the greatest mystics of Islam, Ibn
al Arabi' Fusus al-Hikam is essential reading for students,
scholars and researchers of Islamic Philosophy, Mysticism and
Islamic Mysticism in particular.
In Israel there are Jews and Muslims who practice Sufism together.
The Sufi' activities that they take part in together create
pathways of engagement between two faith traditions in a
geographical area beset by conflict. Sufism and Jewish Muslim
Relations investigates this practice of Sufism among Jews and
Muslims in Israel and examines their potential to contribute to
peace in the area. It is an original approach to the study of
reconciliation, situating the activities of groups that are not
explicitly acting for peace within the wider context of grass-roots
peace initiatives. The author conducted in-depth interviews with
those practicing Sufism in Israel, and these are both collected in
an appendix and used throughout the work to analyse the approaches
of individuals to Sufism and the challenges they face. It finds
that participants understand encounters between Muslim and Jewish
mystics in the medieval Middle East as a common heritage to Jews
and Muslims practising Sufism together today, and it explores how
those of different faiths see no dissonance in the adoption of Sufi
practices to pursue a path of spiritual progression. The first
examination of the Derekh Avraham Jewish-Sufi Order, this is a
valuable resource for students and scholars of Sufi studies, as
well as those interested in Jewish-Muslim relations.
This book presents an intellectual history of today's Muslim world,
surveying contemporary Muslim thinking in its various
manifestations, addressing a variety of themes that impact on the
lives of present-day Muslims. Focusing on the period from roughly
the late 1960s to the first decade of the twenty-first century, the
book is global in its approach and offers an overview of different
strands of thought and trends in the development of new ideas,
distinguishing between traditional, reactionary, and progressive
approaches. It presents a variety of themes and issues including:
The continuing relevance of the legacy of traditional Islamic
learning as well as the use of reason; the centrality of the
Qur'an; the spiritual concerns of contemporary Muslims; political
thought regarding secularity, statehood, and governance; legal and
ethical debates; related current issues like human rights, gender
equality, and religious plurality; as well as globalization,
ecology and the environment, bioethics, and life sciences. An
alternative account of Islam and the Muslim world today,
counterbalancing narratives that emphasise politics and
confrontations with the West, this book is an essential resource
for students and scholars of Islam.
Can the seeker after Truth wholly depend on the guidance found in
books on Sufism or are the oral teachings of a spiritual master
necessary? This was a heated debate in fourteenth-century Andalusia
that extended beyond the confines of Sufi circles. Ibn Khaldun (d.
808/1406), the celebrated social theorist and historian, ventured
into this debate with a treatise that is as relevant today as it
was then. Ibn Khaldun on Sufism: Remedy for the Questioner in
Search of Answers is the first ever translation into English of
Shifa' al-Sa'il li-Tahdhib al-Masa'il.Though Ibn Khaldun is
renowned for the Muqaddima and the 'Ibar-which are considered
milestones in the fields of medieval sociology and the philosophy
of history-little is known about his religious and spiritual life.
In her introduction to Ibn Khaldun on Sufism, Dr Yumna Ozer seeks
to restore Ibn Khaldun and his work to the context from which his
theories arose, both in intellectual and religious terms; she also
draws a vivid painting of Sufism in the fourteenth century and
rethinks Ibn Khaldun's relationship with Sufism. The translation
itself addresses the dichotomies or synergies between religious law
and the Sufi path, the roles played by jurists, and that played by
Sufis, and the particular position of the Sufi shaykh or spiritual
master. Dr Yumna Ozer gained a PhD in Islamic Studies from Indiana
University and is an independent scholar specialising in Sufism.
Can ecstatic experiences be studied with the academic instruments
of rational investigation? What kinds of religious illumination are
experienced by academically minded people? And what is the specific
nature of the knowledge of God that university theologians of the
Middle Ages enjoyed compared with other modes of knowing God, such
as rapture, prophecy, the beatific vision, or simple faith? Ecstasy
in the Classroom explores the interface between academic theology
and ecstatic experience in the first half of the thirteenth
century, formative years in the history of the University of Paris,
medieval Europe's "fountain of knowledge." It considers
little-known texts by William of Auxerre, Philip the Chancellor,
William of Auvergne, Alexander of Hales, and other theologians of
this community, thus creating a group portrait of a scholarly
discourse. It seeks to do three things. The first is to map and
analyze the scholastic discourse about rapture and other modes of
cognition in the first half of the thirteenth century. The second
is to explicate the perception of the self that these modes imply:
the possibility of transformation and the complex structure of the
soul and its habits. The third is to read these discussions as a
window on the predicaments of a newborn community of medieval
professionals and thereby elucidate foundational tensions in the
emergent academic culture and its social and cultural context.
Juxtaposing scholastic questions with scenes of contemporary
courtly romances and reading Aristotle's Analytics alongside
hagiographical anecdotes, Ecstasy in the Classroom challenges the
often rigid historiographical boundaries between scholastic thought
and its institutional and cultural context.
"In these critical times nothing could be more valuable for the
West than a rediscovery of its true spiritual heritage: books which
were once the treasures of people, now rare and little known."
Seyyed Hossein Nasr Early Islamic Mysticism: Sufi, Qur'an, Mi'raj,
Poetic and Theological Writings translated, edited and with an
introduction by Michael A. Sells preface by Carl W. Ernst God is
the light of the heavens and earth. The light like the light of a
lamp in a niche The lamp enclosed in a cover of glass The glass
like a glistening star Kindled from the oil of a 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 tradition. Immediately following
are the foundation texts of the pre-Sufi spirituality: the Qur'an
passages most important to the mystical tradition; the accounts of
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 as-Saddiq,
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, a pioneer in the mystical interpretation of the
Qur'an; Junayd, who helped place Sufi mysticism at the center of
the Islamic tradition; 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.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson was the charismatic leader of the
Chabad Hasidic movement and its designated Messiah. Yet when he
died in 1994, the messianic fervor he inspired did not subside.
Through traditional means and digital technologies, a group of
radical Hasidim, the Meshichistim, still keep the Rebbe palpably
close-engaging in ongoing dialogue, participating in specific
rituals, and developing an ever-expanding visual culture of
portraits and videos. With Us More Than Ever focuses on this group
to explore how religious practice can sustain the belief that a
messianic figure is both present and accessible. Yoram Bilu
documents a unique religious experience that is distinctly modern.
The rallying point of the Meshichistim-that the Rebbe is "with us
more than ever"-is sustained through an elaborate system that
creates the sense of his constant and pervasive presence in the
lives of his followers. The virtual Rebbe that emerges is multiple,
visible, accessible, and highly decentralized, the epicenter of a
truly messianic movement in the twenty-first century. Combining
ethnographic fieldwork and cognitive science with nuanced analysis,
Bilu documents the birth and development of a new religious faith,
describing the emergence of new spiritual horizons, a process
common to various religious movements old and new.
Ibn al-'Arabi (d. 1240) was one of the towering figures of Islamic
intellectual history, and among Sufis still bears the title of
al-shaykh al-akbar, or "the greatest master." Ibn al-'Arabi and
Islamic Intellectual Culture traces the history of the concept of
"oneness of being" (wahdat al-wujud) in the school of Ibn al-
'Arabi, in order to explore the relationship between mysticism and
philosophy in Islamic intellectual life. It examines how the
conceptual language used by early mystical writers became
increasingly engaged over time with the broader Islamic
intellectual culture, eventually becoming integrated with the
latter's common philosophical and theological vocabulary. It
focuses on four successive generations of thinkers (Sadr al-Din
al-Qunawi, Mu'ayyad al-Din al-Jandi, 'Abd al-Razzaq al-Kashani, and
Dawud al-Qaysari), and examines how these "philosopher-mystics"
refined and developed the ideas of Ibn al-'Arabi. Through a close
analysis of texts, the book clearly traces the crystallization of
an influential school of thought in Islamic history and its place
in the broader intellectual culture. Offering an exploration of the
development of Sufi expression and thought, this book will be a
valuable resource for students and scholars of Islamic thought,
philosophy, and mysticism.
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