Sufism is the heart of Islam. Its key is an inner light and awakening, an outer courtesy and service to humanity. It relates to it much as the mystical tradition does to Christianity, but far more prominently. With authors like Rumi achieving all-time popularity, it is increasingly acknowledged as a spiritual answer to modern materialism. This introductory guide describes its origins and background, the relationship with Islam and its spread throughout the world. It covers what is means to be a Sufi and the relevance of Sufism in modern life. Biographies of prominent Sufis and a selection of writings complete this guide to a profound tradition.

Islam is the fastest growing religion in North America and the world, with well over a billion followers. Since the Islamic revolution in Iran and the dismantling of communism, the world has seemed to be heading inexorably towards greater confrontation between Muslim and non-Muslim cultures. At a time when communities increasingly tend to view each other with suspicion, this book cuts through the morass of understanding and misinformation to give a timely overview of the universality and light of the prophetic message and the traditions that have grown up around it; the life of Islam today, its potential for bringing unity; and speculates on its future. The introduction also features selections from key Islamic writings.

This unique guide to psychology presents Western readers with an islamic concept of personality--the source from which the Enneagram and other Sufi theories of personality were derived.