(3 reviews)

In this work, Al-Ghazali goes beyond the most obvious aspects of ibadah (like prayer, almsgiving, fasting, pilgrimage, etc). These selections from his `Ihya `Ulum al-Din explain, in his characteristically powerful and inspiring way, how to reap the rich harvests of spiritual, moral and social upliftment that must be their reward. It is an especially important book for young men and women of today who are seeking God's pleasure - a lifestyle impossible to maintain without an understanding of the inner resources which Islam offers.AL-GHAZALI, Abu Hamid Muhammad (450/1058-505/1111), a towering figure in Islam, was born at Tus, near Mashhad in Iran, in the early Seljuq era and studied theology and law at Nayshapur. His formidable intellectual abilities soon won him honour and respect at the Court of the famous Seljuqi Prime Minister, Naizam al-Mulk, and, while still in his early thirties, he became Professor at Madrasa Nizamiyya in Baghdad and attained great prominence there. But soon he abandoned his professorship for a decade of contemplation and studies. He returned for a while to lecture at the Nizamiyya in Nayshapur before his death. He wrote a large number of works which include Al-Munqidh min al-Dalal (a biographical account), Tahafut al-Falasifa; but his magnum opus remains the Ihya"Ulum al-Din in four volumes, compiled during his period of retirement and contemplation. INNER DIMENSIONS OF ISLAMIC WORSHIP consists of selections from Al-Ghazali's Ihya', translated into En...read more

  (1 review)

Considered one of the greatest works of Islamic mysticism and interpreted here for the first time in English by Shaykh Tosun Bayrak al-Jerrahi, was written by 'Abd al-Qadiry-Jilani (1077-1166). Born near the Caspian Sea, he was the son of Fatima bint Abdullah al-Sawma'i.The Secret of Secrets, considered one of the greatest works of classical Sufi mysticism and interpreted here for the first time in English' by Shaykh Tosun Bayrak al Jerrahi, was written by Abd al-Qidir al Jilani (1077-1 166), the eponymous founder of the Qadiriya order, the first of the great Sufi brotherhoods which radiate throughout the Islamic world. Born near the Caspian Sea, he was he son of the great saint Fatima hint Abdullah al-Sawma i. After a period of intense intellectual and mystical training Abd al-Qidir received the khirqa (robe of initiation) and was soon recognised as a saint and scholar, consulted, loved and revered by caliph and pauper alike. As one of the most venerated Sufism his burial place in Baghdad still attracts isitors from many countries. The Secret of Secrets reveals in a brief compass, the very essence of Sufism, showing how outward practices such as rayer, fasting' and almsgiving contain a wealth of inner lions which must be discovered and enjoyed if external actions are to be performed in a manner pleasing to God. When this is achieved the soul finds true peace and the spiritual life becomes complete. The book forms a bridge between two of the author's more famous works, Weal...read more

Ibn 'Arabi, recognised in his lifetime as al-Shaykh al-Akbar - the supreme spiritual Master - was born in 1165 in Andulusia and died in Damascus in 1240. Over a period of eight centuries he has exerted a profound influence on Islamic mysticism. In recent years a number of important studies have helped acquaint the Western reader with Ibn 'Arabi's metaphysics and this process is now greatly enhanced by the present volume in which Michel Chodkiewicz explores for the first time, the Master's 'hagiology' or teaching on sainthood. Founded on a careful analysis of the relevant texts, Chodkiewicz's work examines this essential aspect of Ibn 'Arabi's formulation of a doctrine of sainthood, defining the nature and function of sainthood, while also specifying the criteria for a typology of saints based on the notion of prophetic inheritance.

“To express in the language of Sufism, that is, Islamic mysticism, some of the universal truths which lie at the heart of all religions’, this is the avowed purpose of this book. It came into being because the author was asked by a friend to set down in writing what he considered to be the most important things that a human being can know. He was also asked to make it very easy, and despite the depth of all that it contains, it has in fact a remarkable simplicity and clarity, due no doubt in part to the constant use of traditional imagery which awakens and penetrates the imagination.

Have you ever wondered: What is the position of mainstream Islam on remembrance of Allah (dhikr) in general? Does the remembrance of Allah have roots in the Quran and hadith? The "Salafis" accuse those who sit together and recite the remembrance of Allah -- either loudly or silently -- of deviation and heresy. Read the evidence and then decide for yourself.

Of all the faculties man has been endowed with, none excels the heart in importance and nobility. For the heart is both the seat of intelligence and understanding, and the locus of faith and spirituality; it is the Quintessential faculty by which man may come to know his creator, and seek nearness and intimacy with Him. The heart's spiritual sustenance lies in its being receptive to the effusions of divine grace and guidance, without which the veils that cover it will continue to corrupt its primordial purity, gradually rendering it dysfunctional! Each veil - a metaphor for heedlessness, sins and distraction - that is melted away by the rays of faith and spiritual endeavour, allows vital Qualities to take root in the heart. Once rooted, these Qualities, such as love of Allah, as well as hope, fear, remembrance and reliance upon Him, are referred to in the religious vocabulary as spiritual stations; only when the heart embraces these stations is it said to be truly sound. The Majestic Qur'an informs: This book explains some of the main spiritual stations that the heart is required to embrace as part of its worship of Allah and its journeying to Him. Each chapter commences with a line of poetry which highlights one of these spiritual stations; each station is then explained in a clear, lucid style, seasoned with insights by some of the pietists and spiritual masters from the early Muslims. The nature and brevity of this book is such that it may be regarded as a primer to the s...read more

  (1 review)

Sufism has often been described as "the mystical heart of Islam", but what exactly is Sufism? This book attempts to answer this question by introducing the origins of Sufism, its historical context, the early Sufis, their use of stories to convey lessons and some of their most celebrated writings.

  (2 reviews)

The earliest Persian Treatise on Sufism

Love in Sufism investigates the significance of divine love in the Islamic tradition, with particular reference to Sufism. Although Sufis are considered the forerunners of writing on the subject of divine love, there is a relative paucity of literature regarding the details of their conceptions of love. Love in Sufism by Süleyman Derin should be considered as one of the first instances in its field that covers the thoughts of a wide number of Sufi figures writing in Arabic. Süleyman Derin not only provides us with a comprehensive account of the Sufi paradigms of love presented by Rabia, Hallaj, al-Ghazali, Ibn Arabi and Ibn al-Farid—with an analysis of the specific motives of each particular paradigm—but also provides insight into the social and historical context of their milieu. This book addresses both scholars and general readers of Sufism alike.