Islamic and Arab philosophy Books

Book SynopsisAli Akbar examines the works of four noted scholars of Islam: Fazlur Rahman (Pakistan), Abdolkarim Soroush (Iran), Muhammad Mujtahed Shabestari (Iran) and Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd (Egypt).

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Book SynopsisQuestions and answers from two great philosophersWhy is laughter contagious? Why do mountains exist? Why do we long for the past, even if it is scarred by suffering? Spanning a vast array of subjects that range from the philosophical to the theological, from the philological to the scientific, The Philosopher Responds is the record of a set of questions put by the litterateur Abu Hayyan al-Tawhidi to the philosopher and historian Abu ''Ali Miskawayh. Both figures were foremost contributors to the remarkable flowering of cultural and intellectual life that took place in the Islamic world during the reign of the Buyid dynasty in the fourth/tenth century. The correspondence between al-Tawhidi and Miskawayh holds a mirror to many of the debates and preoccupations of the time and reflects the spirit of rationalistic inquiry that animated their era. It also provides insight into the intellectual outlooks of two thinkers who were divided as much by their distTrade ReviewTawhidi’s questions are often epigrammatic essays; they assert the limits of human reason and dwell on man’s 'deficiencies,' while evincing a Johnsonian keenness towards observing the contradictions of the human character, the fortunes of life and the spirit of the age. . . . There was no better recorder of his distempered century than Tawhidi; but there was also no other thinker of his time whose disillusioned and restless spirit is more modern, or whose character comes across more strongly in his writings. * Times Literary Supplement *A fascinating read, particularly for the aspiring scholar of classical Arabic texts, who will benefit from a solid English translation alongside the original Arabic. * Al Jadid *This publication not only offers a new critical reference edition of the Arabic text, but also, through an elegant and fluent English translation, makes this unique work accessible to an audience of non-specialists. * Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies *A marvel of literary finesse, of an English style seemingly able to match the often ornate prose of the Arabic... A pleasure to read throughout. * Journal of Near Eastern Studies *

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Book SynopsisQuestions and answers from two great philosophersWhy is laughter contagious? Why do mountains exist? Why do we long for the past, even if it is scarred by suffering? Spanning a vast array of subjects that range from the philosophical to the theological, from the philological to the scientific, The Philosopher Responds is the record of a set of questions put by the litterateur Abu Hayyan al-Tawhidi to the philosopher and historian Abu ''Ali Miskawayh. Both figures were foremost contributors to the remarkable flowering of cultural and intellectual life that took place in the Islamic world during the reign of the Buyid dynasty in the fourth/tenth century. The correspondence between al-Tawhidi and Miskawayh holds a mirror to many of the debates and preoccupations of the time and reflects the spirit of rationalistic inquiry that animated their era. It also provides insight into the intellectual outlooks of two thinkers who were divided as much by their distinctivTrade ReviewThis publication not only offers a new critical reference edition of the Arabic text, but also, through an elegant and fluent English translation, makes this unique work accessible to an audience of non-specialists. * Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies *A fascinating read, particularly for the aspiring scholar of classical Arabic texts, who will benefit from a solid English translation alongside the original Arabic. * Al Jadid *A marvel of literary finesse, of an English style seemingly able to match the often ornate prose of the Arabic... A pleasure to read throughout. * Journal of Near Eastern Studies *

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Book SynopsisWhy has continental philosophy so often made its North American home in Catholic institutions?Trade Review“The story told in The Catholic Reception is a compelling one that has shaped how phenomenology is practiced at Catholic universities in North America, and is a story that need not yet be over.” -- Zachary Willcutt * Journal for Continental Philosophy of Religion *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: Catholics and Continental Thought: A Curious Allegiance Stephanie Rumpza 1. The Reception of Phenomenology and Existentialism by American Catholic Philosophers: Some Facts and Some Reasons Daniel Dahlstrom 2. Between the Old World and the New: Neoscholasticism, Continental Philosophy, and the Historical Subject Gregory P. Floyd 3. Continental Philosophy and Hermeneutics: Between Religion and Secularity John D. Caputo 4. Meaning, Concreteness, and Subjectivity: American Phenomenology and Catholic Philosophy at Boston College Patrick Byrne 5. Catholicism and Continental Philosophy in French Canada: An Opening Followed by an Ungrateful Separation Jean Grondin 6. French Phenomenology and Catholic Thought: Unfolding the Logos of the Logos Christina M. Gschwandtner 7. The Use of Philosophy in Critical Catholic Theology Andrew Prevot 8. Continental Philosophy as a Source for Theology: The Case of the “Science-Religion” Debate Anne M. Carpenter 9. How Continental Philosophy of Religion Came into Being and Where It Is Going Bruce Ellis Benson 10. Catholic Thought, French Phenomenology, and the University: Historical-Critical Remarks Jeffrey Bloechl 11. Being True to Mystery and Metaxological Metaphysics William Desmond 12. Catholic Thought and the Appropriation of Apocalyptic Forms of Philosophy in Alain Badiou, Slavoj Zizek, and Agamben Cyril O’Regan

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Book SynopsisRecognized as one of the leading philosophers and Jewish thinkers of the twentieth century, Emil Ludwig Fackenheim has been widely praised for his boldness, originality, and profundity. As is well-known, a striking feature of Fackenheim’s thought is his unwavering contention that the Holocaust brought about a radical shift in human history, so monumental and unprecedented that nothing can ever be the same again. Fackenheim regarded it as the specific duty of thinkers and scholars to assume responsibility to probe this historical event for its impact on the human future and to make its immense ramifications evident. In Emil Fackenheim’s Post-Holocaust Thought and Its Philosophical Sources, scholars consider important figures in the history of philosophy including Kant, Hegel, Heidegger, and Strauss and trace how Fackenheim''s philosophical confrontations with each of them shaped his overall thought. This collection details which philosophers exercised thTable of ContentsIntroduction Abbreviations 1. Emil Fackenheim on Moses Maimonides and the “One Great Difference between the Medievals and the Moderns” Benjamin Lorch, Michigan State University 2. Emil Fackenheim’s Jewish Correction of Kant’s Quasi-Christian Eschatology Martin D. Yaffe, University of North Texas 3. The Meaning of History: Knowledge of Good and Evil in Hegel and Fackenheim Paul Wilford, Boston College 4. Strategies of Jewish Hegelianism: Emil Fackenheim and Samuel Hirsch Martin Kavka, Florida State University 5. Can Philosophy Be Positive? The Place of Schelling in the Thought of Emil Fackenheim Jeffrey A. Bernstein, College of the Holy Cross 6. Emil Fackenheim’s Way from Presence to History: Its Grounding in a Critique of Rosenzweig on Revelation Kenneth Hart Green, University of Toronto 7. Fackenheim and Buber on Revelation: Re-evaluating the Existential and Historical Turn Away from Philosophy Steven Kepnes, Colgate University 8. To Captivate the Jewish Thinker: Fackenheim’s Ontological Encounter with Heidegger Waller R. Newell, Carleton University 9. Philosophy in the Age of Auschwitz: Emil Fackenheim and Leo Strauss Kenneth C. Blanchard, Jr., Northern University 10. Wiesel and Fackenheim: Philosophy and the Problem of Persecution Sharon Portnoff, Connecticut College Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisThe ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism contains profound wisdom about the cosmos, nature, human life, and education. Taoism seeks to be in harmony with nature, and using it as a guide can help us live in a way that is healing to both ourselves and the planet. Taoism, Teaching, and Learning identifies key aspects of Taoist thought and highlights how these principles can promote a holistic approach to teaching and learning. In particular, this book offers educators guidelines and pedagogical examples for how to instil a perspective of interconnectedness into their classrooms. It sheds light on how philosophical Taoism articulates a vision of the universe and life that mirrors the actual realities of nature. Providing frameworks and methods for teaching and learning based on the interconnectedness of life, Taoism, Teaching, and Learning develops an inspiring vision for education and helps us to see our world in a deeply holistic and meaningful way.Table of ContentsForeword Preface 1. Exploring Taoist Educational Philosophies in a Classical Suzhou Garden 2. Bringing Education into Harmony with the Way Things Are 3. Self-Cultivation 4. Wu-Wei: Teaching with Ease and Grace 5. Balancing Yin and Yang 6. Taoism and Holistic Education 7. Yin and Yang: Play in Kindergarten and the Teachers’ Role 8. A New Vision for Education

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Book SynopsisDespite being a pillar of belief in the Judeo-Christian tradition, the idea of revelation was deeply discredited over the course of the Enlightenment. The post-Enlightenment restoration of revelation among German religious thinkers is a fascinating yet underappreciated moment in modern efforts to navigate between reason and faith. The Rebirth of Revelation compares Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish reflections on revelation from 1750 to 1850 and asserts that a strategic transformation in the term’s meaning secured its relevance for the modern age. Tuska Benes argues that propositional revelation, understood as the infallible dispensation of doctrine, gave way to revelation as a subjective process of inner transformation or the historical disclosure of divine being in the world. By comparatively approaching the unconventional ways in which Protestantism, Catholicism, and Judaism have rehabilitated the concept of revelation, The Rebirth of Revelation Trade Review“Benes focuses on the period between 1750 and 1850 in the German lands, which boasted some of the most important intellectual minds of the period. They include Lessing, Mendelssohn, Kant, Herder, Schleiermacher, and Hegel. The most intriguing part of Benes’s book, however, is not the responses of these intellectual giants; rather, her approach is. She provides a much broader picture, including the religious struggles that haunted Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Jewish intellectual communities at the time.” -- Ulrich Groetsch, University of North Alabama * Central European History *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Historical Revelation in the Protestant Enlightenment Reason and Revelation: Spinoza, Leibniz, and Wolff Reimarus and the Neologians on Pagan Salvation G.E. Lessing on the Historicity of Revelation The Kantian Critique of Revelation 2. The Comparative History of Religion, 1770–1800 David Hume and the Comparative History of Religion J.G. Herder’s Älteste Urkunde des Menschengeschlechts (1774) The Comparative Religious History of Christoph Meiners J.A. Starck and J.G. Hamann on Rational Ur-Monotheism The Göttingen School of Comparative Religious History 3. God’s Word in Comparative Mythology, 1760–1830 The Divine Origins of Language: Hamann and Herder The Ursprache and Mosaic Revelation: Friedrich Schlegel J.A. Kanne’s Elusive Ursprache The Language of Revelation Nationalized: Friedrich Rückert The Symbolism of God’s Word: Joseph Görres 4. Revelation in Nature from Physicotheology to G.H. Schubert Natural Theology and the Collapse of Intelligent Design Restoring Revelation to Naturphilosophie Nature Divested of Sacred Tradition G.H. Schubert in the Spinoza Renaissance Physica Sacra: The Urwelt, Creation, and Scripture 5. The Philosophy of Revelation: Schleiermacher, Hegel, and Schelling Schleiermacher: Revelation as Subjective Experience The Self-Revelation of God in Hegel The Dark Ground of Revelation in Schelling 6. The Epistemology of Grace: Revelation in Catholic Theology, 1770–1850 Enlightened Catholicism and the Semi-Rationalist Defense of Revelation The Moral Necessity of Revelation for Georg Hermes The Comparative History of Religion in Enlightened Catholic Theology Syncretism in Post-Kantian Catholic Histories of Religion Catholic Philosophies of Revelation: Anton Günther and J.S. Drey The Neo-Scholasticism of Joseph Kleutgen 7. Revelation in Jewish Religious Thought from Mendelssohn to Geiger Revelation and the Law: Moses Mendelssohn Kant and Pre-Mosaic Revelation: Saul Ascher Salomon Ludwig Steinheim on Primordial Revelation Revelation as Historical Experience: Samson Raphael Hirsch Jewish Philosophies of Revelation: Salomon Formstecher and Samuel Hirsch The Genius of Revelation: Abraham Geiger 8. Revelation Imperiled in Protestant Religious Thought, 1820–1850 Revelation and Neo-Confessionalism: August Tholuck The Self-Revelation of Humanity: Ludwig Feuerbach Søren Kierkegaard: Revelation in Existentialist Thought Conclusion Bibliography

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Book SynopsisWithout the notes, Erasmus said, the texts of the Scripture were 'naked and defenceless,' open to criticism by uncomprehending readers and corruption by careless printers. The Annotations represent not only Erasmus' defence of the New Testament against such abuss, but also a reflection of his own philosophy, objectives, and working methods.In establishing the text and defending it against his opponents, Erasmus drew on manuscript sources, classical literature, patristic writings, scholastic exegesis, and the work of his immediate forerunners, Valla and Lefevre. He did not hesitate to point out the errors of illustrious writers like Jerome and established medieval authorities like Peter Lombard. In general he was appreciative of the early church Fathers and contemptuous of medieval commentators.As well as discussing the contents and aims of the Annotations, Erika Rummel investigates Erasmus' development from philologist to theologian and traces the prepub

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Book SynopsisA consideration of three of the most contentious ethical issues of our time - abortion, war and euthanasia - from the Muslim perspective. Scholars of Islamic studies have collaborated to produce this volume which both integrates Muslim thinking into the field of applied ethics and introduces readers to an aspect of the religion long overlooked in the West. This collective effort sets forth the relationship between Islamic ethics and law, revealing the complexity and richness of the Islamic tradition as well as its responsiveness to these controversial modern issues. The contributors analyze classical sources and survey the modern ethical landscape to identify guiding principles within Islamic ethical thought. Clarifying the importance of pragmatism in Islamic decision-making, the contributors also offer case studies related to specialized topics, including ""wrongful birth"" claims, terrorist attacks, and brain death. The case studies elicit possible variations on common Muslim perspectives. The contributors situate Muslim ethics relative to Christian and secular accounts of the value of human life, exposing surprising similarities and differences. In an introductory overview of the volume, Jonathan E. Brockopp underscores the steady focus on God as the one who determines the value of human life, and hence as the final arbiter of Islamic ethics. A foreword by Gene Outka places the volume in the context of general ethical studies, and an afterword by A. Kevin Reinhart suggests some significant ramifications for comparative religious ethics.

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Book SynopsisIbn Tufayl (d. 1185) was an Andalusian courtier, philosopher, Sufi master, and royal physician to the Almohad Caliphs. He inspired the twelfth-century Andalusian revolt against Ptolemaic astronomy and sponsored the career of the most renowned Aristotelian of medieval times, Abu al-Walid Ibn Rushd (the Latin Averroes). Ibn Tufayl was an exemplar of the kind of versatile scholar early Almohad culture wanted to cultivate. In this thought provoking and concise account, Taneli Kukkonen explores the life and thought of Ibn Tufayl and assesses the influence and legacy of Hayy Ibn Yaqzan, Ibn Tufayl’s famous philosophical romance. Hayy Ibn Yaqzan became a popular and often-copied work in early modern Europe; it has since secured a place as one of the best read pieces in all Arabic literature, partly due to its outstanding literary qualities, in part because it provides an ideal introduction to the themes and preoccupations of classical Arabic philosophy. The study sets Hayy in its historical and philosophical context and paints a vivid portrait of the world as Ibn Tufayl saw it and as he wished for it to be seen.Trade Review‘Taneli Kukkonen’s study is not only a superb introduction to Ibn Tufayl and his work, but it also provides a succinct overview of Islamic philosophical thought at large…his exposition [is] admirably lucid and, indeed, entertaining.’ * LA Review of Books *‘Scholars and students of Ibn Ṭufayl will enjoy Kukkonen's introduction. Indeed his observation that Ibn Ṭufayl's "casual asides and narrative detours can be just as fascinating to us as what he is ultimately driving at" may equally be made of his own book.’ * Journal of the History of Philosophy *Table of ContentsPreface Hayy Ibn Yaqzan: An overview 1 LIFE AND TIMES The Almohad Revolution A New Intellectual Order The Caves of Guadix The Medical Tradition In Royal Service Sufi, Musicologist, Medical Author Sponsor 2 HAYY Hayy: A Synopsis An Architectural Design Hayy’s Theme Pointers and Reminders The Spiral Path Authority and Authentication Harmony and Hierarchy 3 ISLAND LIFE The Island The Perfect Climate From Ceylon to Mali The Twice-born Child History or Drama Seeing with One’s Own Eyes Beginning from the Beginning Experience and Art The Limits of Skill 4 NATURE Taking in the World Structure and Scaffolding Suspended between Worlds Natures and Powers Forms and Universals Synthesis and Analysis Matter The Elements The Heavenly Spheres 5 SOUL Living Nature Vital Heat The Vehicle of the Soul The Spirit which is God’s Diffusion and Suffusion Plurality and Unity The Human Distinction The Science of the Soul 6 THREE DUTIES Finitude and Transcendence Two Worlds Ought from Is Three Lives The Conservation Principle Kinship with the Heavens Leaving the World Behind 7 GOD Unveiling the Mysteries From Asceticism to Mysticism Tasting the Truth Theological Precepts Like Knowing Like Annihilation and Restoration Faces and Names The “Eastern Wisdom” Sensation and Intellection Arrival 8 RELIGION Religion and Society Asal and Salaman Language and Reality Modeling Perfection Re-entering the Cave Human Weakness Morality and Scripture Mortality and Revelation 9 AFTERLIFE Arabic Margins Hebrew Echoes Early Modern Success The “Robinson” Question Orientalist Ideas Back to Ibn Tufayl Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisI.B.Tauris in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies This is the first English translation of the final philosophical work of the great eleventh-century Ismaili thinker, poet, and Fatimid emissary, N?sir-i Khusraw. Appointed from Cairo by command of the Fatimid Imam-caliph al-Mustansir to serve first as a d?'?, and then as the hujjat, for the entire region of Khur?s?n, he maintained his allegiance both to his mission and his Imam-caliph for the rest of his life, even when threatened and driven into exile. Written during his exile in Badakhsh?n in the year 1070, N?sir-i Khusraw here develops a powerful presentation of both Aristotelian philosophy and Ismaili exegesis, or ta'w?l, and strives to show that they are ultimately in harmony. The work is presented as a learned commentary on a long philosophical poem, written in the previous century and sent to N?sir by the am?r of Badakhsh?n, 'Al? b. al-Asad, who copied the poem out in his own hand from memory and asked the poet-philosopher to explicate it. In doing so, N?sir ranges over a huge span of topics from logic and language to the nature of the physical world, from the spheres of the highest heavens to the plants and animals of the earthly realm, and, most importantly, hidden spiritual realities: the esoteric (b?tin) as well as the exoteric (z?hir) realms. He thus discusses the nature of God, the creation of human beings, and the mysteries concealed in the physical world, itself a reflection of a higher, transcendent realm. Between Reason and Revelation: Twin Wisdoms Reconciled is an annotated translation of the Persian text prepared by Henry Corbin and Mohammed Mu'?n based on the single surviving manuscript of the work, now in the Süleymaniye Mosque Library in Istanbul. It is a work of great philosophical and spiritual insight, which is also a pioneering attempt to tackle difficult intellectual problems in the Persian language; it is at once lucid and lyrical, precise and speculative. N?sir’s influence has been immense as both a poet and a thinker, and the Kit?b-i J?mi' al-hikmatayn is his crowning work.

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Book SynopsisI.B.Tauris in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies Of the few surviving Nizari Ismaili texts from the Alamut period, the Haft bab (Seven Chapters), which outlines the basic tenets of Ismaili philosophical theology, has proved to be the most popular. One of its many attractive features is its simple recounting of the most complicated Ismaili theological narratives, including the doctrine of the Resurrection (qiyamat). Produced around the year 1203, this small treatise was probably intended as an introduction to the Diwan-i Qa'imiyyat compiled by Hasan-i Mahmud-i Katib (d. after 1242). For many years, the Haft bab was misattributed to Baba Sayyidna (Hasan-i Sabbah), but the true author has finally been identified as Hasan-i Mahmud-i Katib, whose works continue to shape our understanding of this important period.The current text of the Haft bab, edited and translated into English by S. J. Badakhchani, is based on Badakhchani's analysis of a great number of manuscripts available, including a complete and unaltered version. The concepts found in the text derive largely from the intellectual heritage of the Fatimids.These include the idea of tanzih (the absolute transcendence of God beyond human understanding and knowledge); a cyclical conception of prophetic history, consisting of seven eras (dawr); the Ismaili Imamate as the most important pillar of Ismaili Islam; and the Qiyamat as the completion and perfection of the religious law (shari'at). The Ismaili interpretation of the Qiyamat is radically different from Qur'anic eschatology in its esoteric formation, spiritual aspiration and imaginative scope. The Haft bab explains this key doctrine of Nizari Ismailism, shedding light on a fundamental period in the history of Shi'i Islam.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Foreword by Christian Jambet General Introduction The author of Haft b?b Contents of Haft b?b Resurrection in Islam: An Overview Resurrection in Fatimid Ismailism Resurrection in Niz?r? Ismailism Proclamation of the Qiy?mat The Ismaili Response Contemorary Perspectives Manuscripts and Editions English Translation of Haft b?b Persian Edition of Haft b?b Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisHow do we communicate meaning in the age of fake news? What is the difference between narrative and information; between ideology and political narrative; between ‘narrative fiction’ and a story? Will the narration continue forever? What is history and what is propaganda? What shall we do tonight? What might we believe tomorrow? We look at the past, present and future of narratives and tell a few tall tales ourselves.

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Book SynopsisMedieval Islamic philosophers were occupied with questions of cosmology, predestination and salvation and human responsibility for actions. For Ismailis, the related notions of religious leadership, namely the imamate, and the eschatological role of the prophets and imams were equally central. These were also a matter of doctrinal controversy within the so-called Iranian school of Ismaili philosophical theology. Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani (d. after 411/1020) was one of the most important theologians in the Fatimid period, who rose to prominence during the reign of the imam-caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (r. 386/996–411/1021). He is renowned for blending the Neoplatonic philosophical heritage with Ismaili religious tradition. This book provides an analysis of al-Kirmani’s thought and sheds new light on the many layers of allusion which characterise his writings. Through a translation and analytical commentary of the eighth chapter of al-Kirm?n?’s Kit?b al-Riy?? (Book of Meadows), which is devoted to the subject of divine preordination and human redemption, Maria De Cillis shows readers first-hand his theologically distinctive interpretation of qada and qadar (divine decree and destiny). Here, al-Kirm?n? attempts to harmonise the views of earlier renowned Ismaili missionaries, Abu Hatim Ahmad b. Hamdan al-Razi (d. 322/934), Muhammad b. Ahmad al-Nasafi (d. 331/942) and Abu Ya?qub Ishaq b. Ahmad al-Sijistani (d. c. 361/971). De Cillis skilfully guides the reader through al-Kirmani’s metaphysical and esoteric correspondences, offering new insights into Shi'i/Ismaili philosophical thought which will be of great interest to those in the field of Shi?i studies and, more broadly, to scholars of medieval philosophy.Table of ContentsList of Abbreviations List of Tables Acknowledgements NOTES ON THE TEXT INTRODUCTION PART ONE: DELINEATING AL-KIRMANI’S THEORETICAL SYSTEM 1. The Plotinian Legacy and al-Sijistani’s Influence: A preliminary Approach to al- Kirmani’s Understanding of the Intellect 2. Al-Kirmani’s views on the Agent and the Nature of the Intellect 3. Meritorious Determination: Outlining al-Kirmani’s Cosmological Scheme 4. The Human Soul and Providence 5. Human Actions in the Realm of Acquisition 6. The Intellect’s Knowledge of Particulars 7. Correspondences between the 'alam al-wahda and the 'alam al-din PART TWO: ANALYSIS AND TRANSLATION OF CHAPTER EIGHT OF AL-KIRMANI’S KITAB AL-RIYAD Origins and Nature of the qada' wa’l-qadar debate in the Riyad Fasl One Fasl Two Fasl Three Fasl Four Fasl Five Fasl Six Fasl Seven Fasl Eight Fasl Nine Fasl Ten Fasl Eleven Fasl Twelve Fasl Thirteen Fasl Fourteen Fasl Fifteen Fasl Sixteen Fasl Seventeen Fasl Eighteen Fasl Nineteen Fasl Twenty Fasl Twenty-one Fasl Twenty-two Fasl Twenty-three Fasl Twenty-four CONCLUSION Bibliography

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Book SynopsisFitzroy Morrissey's brilliant guide to Islamic thought – from its foundation in the seventh century to the present day. 'A magisterial accomplishment' Professor Eugene Rogan 'The best guide to Islamic thinking that I've read' James Barr 'I greatly enjoyed [it]' Peter Frankopan, Spectator, Books of the Year Day after day we read of the caliphate and the Qur'an, of Sunni and Shi'a, Salafis and Sufis. Almost a quarter of the world's populate is Muslim. Understanding the modern world requires knowing something about Islam. Tracing fourteen centuries of Islamic history – from the foundation of Islam in the seventh century and the life of Muhammad, through the growth of great Islamic empires, to the often fraught modern period – Fitzroy Morrissey considers questions of interpretation and legacy, of God and His relationship with His followers, of the lives of Muslims and how they relate to others. He presents the key teachings of the Qur'an and Hadith, analyzes the great works of Islamic theology, philosophy, and law, and delves into the mystical writings of the Sufis. He considers the impact of foreign cultures – Greek and Persian, Jewish and Christian – on early Islam, accounts for the crystallization of the Sunni and Shi'i forms of the faith, and explains the rise of intellectual trends like Islamic modernism and Islamism in recent times. In this way, Morrissey presents not a monolithic creed, but a nuanced faith made up of several often competing – and always fascinating – intellectual tendencies. This concise and engaging volume will appeal to readers looking to better understand the world's second largest religion and to those interested in the intellectual history of the last millennium and a half.Trade ReviewA magisterial accomplishment based on extensive reading into Islamic sources across the centuries. Balanced and clear, and a fascinating read, this is the best guide to the history and theology of Islam in print -- Professor Eugene RoganThis lucid, concise and humane book is the best guide to Islamic thinking that I've read. Fitzroy Morrissey explains the key developments, from the Qu'ran to Khomeini, setting them in a context that makes them much easier to grasp and writing in a way that makes you want to know what happened next. If you are looking for an introduction to the principles of Islam, or for enlightenment on the Sunni-Shia split or Islam's different schools of thought, this is the book you need -- James BarrI greatly enjoyed Fitzroy Morrissey's A Short History of Islamic Thought * Spectator *This is a book I know I will frequently refer to. The subject is both relevant and daunting. In Morrissey's hands it is fascinating and a pleasure to read -- James Barr, Engelsberg Ideas

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Book SynopsisEver since they became conscious of their relative decline, the societies of the Middle East, and other Islamic countries more generally, have turned to Islam as an antidote to humiliation and decadence. This book examines the political environments, lives and works of those diverse nineteenth and twentieth century Muslim thinkers who believed that Islam was capable of providing practical solutions to the problems of the modern world. The volume provides a balanced account of their contribution to contemporary revolutionary Islam and to political developments in countries from Morocco to Indonesia. The writings and political activity of al-Afghani, Muhammad Abduh, Ayatollah Khomeini, Sayyid Abu'l-A'la Mawdudi, Hasan al-Banna, Sayyid Qutb, Musa al-Sadr, Ali Shariati and Muhammad Baqr al-Sadr are considered, explaining the roots of movements as diverse as the Muslim Brotherhood, the Jama'at-i Islami, the radical Iranian clergy and the militant Shi'i of Lebanon. The book provides an ideal introduction to the complexity and variety of Islamic revival, revealing the motivations of the thinkers who have reshaped the political vocabulary of Islam. Ali Rahnema's major new introductory chapter puts these still hugely influential Muslim thinkers and the movements they inspired in the context of the extraordinarily changed circumstances confronting Islamic countries both internally and internationally since 9/11. He explores the dangers of any Western-Islamic standoff in a situation where both Muslim terrorists and certain chauvinist Christian elements are misusing the religions they ostensibly espouse. It becomes all the more important for Muslims and non-Muslims to understand the real thinking that has long gone in influential Islamic circles. This book intends to make a contribution in this regard.Trade Review'This is a judicious and well-conceived collection of studies by experts on prominent figures in the modern Islamic political revival... Anyone concerned with the politics of the modern Islamic world will find it useful to have this detailed Who's Who within reach.' Middle East Studies Association (MESA) Bulletin 'Well written articles on nine of the best known Islamic ideologues of the past century, the majority authored by a scholar who has published major work on the figure or his movement... The articles are appropriate to undergraduates and the book could well serve to structure an introductory course in modern Islamic thought'. Religious Studies Review 'The scholarly profiles in Pioneers of Islamic Revival give readers an opportunity to judge for themselves where the truth lies.' Third World Resources 'This is an excellent anthology about nine of the most influential thinkers of the past century who have contributed significantly to the shape of popular Islamic thought.' American Sufi Muslim Association (ASMA) 'The new edition of this book is welcome. Its essays dissect the contrasting approaches of eight of the most significant figures to develop political Islam.' Chris Harman, International SocialismTable of Contents Introduction to 2nd Edition: Contextualizing the Pioneers of Islamic Revival - Ali Rahnema 1. Introduction to 1st Edition - Ali Rahnema 2. Sayyid Jamal al-Din 'al-Afghani' - Nikki R.Keddie 3. Muhammad Abduh: Pioneer of Islamic Reform - Yvonne Haddad 4. Khomeini's Search for Perfection: Theory and Reality - Baqer Moin 5. Mawdudi and the Jama'at-i Islami: The Origins, Theory and Practice of Islamic Revivalism - Syyed Vali Reza Nasr 6. Hasan al-Banna (1906-1949) - David Commins 7. Sayyid Qutb: The Political Vision - Charles Tripp 8. Musa al-Sadr - Augustus Richard Norton 9. Ali Shariati: Teacher, Preacher, Rebel - Ali Rahnema 10. Muhammad Baqer as-Sadr - Chibli Mallat Index

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Book SynopsisThe tradition of philosophy in the Persian-speaking world is extraordinarily rich, creative and diverse. This anthology, which is divided into three volumes, aims to communicate something of that richness and diversity. The term 'philosophy' is understood to in its widest sense to include theological debate, philosophical Sufism and philosophical hermeneutics (ta'wil). Extending over a period of more than two millennia, and showcasing translations by well-established scholars, the anthology offers full bibliographical references throughout. For anyone interested in exploring, in all their varied manifestations, the fascinating philosophical traditions of Persia, such a wide-ranging and ambitious work will be an indispensable resource. Volume 1 starts with the Zoroastrian period and extends to the time of Biruni and Oma Khayyam, paying special attenton to the peripatetic school associated with Ibn Sina (Avicenna). During the pre-Islamic period philosophy was intertwined with religion, and it is within Persian religious texts such as the "Gathas", the "Denkard", and the Zoroastrian texts of the "Bundahisn" that philosophical discussions of subjects ranging from metaphysics to cosmology and eschatology are to be found.

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Book SynopsisThe tradition of philosophy in the Persian-speaking world is extraordinarily rich, creative and diverse. This anthology, which is divided into three volumes, aims to communicate something of that richness and diversity. The term 'philosophy' is understood to in its widest sense to include theological debate, philosophical Sufism and philosophical hermeneutics (ta'wil). Extending over a period of more than two millennia, and showcasing translations by well-established scholars, the anthology offers full bibliographical references throughout. For anyone interested in exploring, in all their varied manifestations, the fascinating philosophical traditions of Persia, such a wide-ranging and ambitious work will be an indispensable resource. Volume 2 covers five centuries of Ismaili philosophy, and includes extracts from outstanding Ismaili works including the "Rasa'il Ikhwan al-Safa" ("Treatises of the Brethren of Purity") and the philosophical odes of Nasir Khusraw. It is of great siginificance that, in the early centuries of Islam, philosophers were influenced by Pythagorean and Hermetic ideas, which are usually associated with Shi'i thought in general and Ismailism in particular. Ismaili philosophy at this time was able to integrate strands of Greco-Alexandrian thought such as Hermeticism and Neo-Pythagoreanism, as well as aspects of Mazdaeism and Manichaeism. It also showed marked interest in Neo-platonism.

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Book SynopsisThe influence of Ibn 'Arabi, the 12th century Andalusian mystic philosopher extended beyond the Muslim world from Spain, to China, to Indonesia. Interest in Ibn 'Arabi in the west has grown over the last century. "Ibn Arabi and the Contemporary West" examines 'Arabi's teachings through the work of the Beshara Trust and the Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi Society. The study investigates how the Beshara School has used Ibn 'Arabi's teachings in assisting a range of students from around the world towards personal, spiritual development and how the Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi Society has evolved into an international organisation with increasing influence in both the West and the Muslim world.Trade Review'Ibn Arabi and the Contemporary West tells several remarkable and intertwined stories. In the context of Islamic Studies, it recounts the recent transmission of universal spiritual teachings that were once central to the spread of Islam as a world religion and civilization, but then were lost and often rejected in the aftermath of colonialism, to the UK and the wider English-speaking world; and it concludes with the unexpected ways that spiritual heritage is now being rediscovered by new generations across the Muslim world. In that new, global setting, this study also sketches the background of the multi-faceted, increasingly global adaptation of Ibn 'Arabi's teachings - which for centuries had helped integrate and inspire the burgeoning creative expressions of the Islamic humanities and spirituality across Asia and Africa - by contemporary artists and thinkers working in many of those same fields today: including philosophy, ecology, architecture, psychology, spirituality, and religious thought. And on a more human, immediate level, this is the story of the lasting inspiration and personal influences of a single quiet spiritual teacher and those he inspired, detailing the formation, teachings, and expanding development and outreach of the Beshara movement.' Professor J. W. Morris, Boston CollegeTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Bulent Rauf 2. The Beshara Trust: Early Years 3. Chisholme and Sherborne: The Introduction of Structured Residential Courses 4. An Introduction to the Texts and Teachings of Ibn 'Arabi Used for Study by the Beshara School 5. Recent Beshara Education: The Curses and their Aims 6. Student experiences During and Following the Courses 7. The Pilgrimage through Turkey 8. Outreach 9. The Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi Society Conclusion

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Book SynopsisThe influence of Ibn 'Arabi, the 12th century Andalusian mystic philosopher extended beyond the Muslim world from Spain, to China, to Indonesia. Interest in Ibn 'Arabi in the west has grown over the last century. "Ibn Arabi and the Contemporary West" examines 'Arabi's teachings through the work of the Beshara Trust and the Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi Society. The study investigates how the Beshara School has used Ibn 'Arabi's teachings in assisting a range of students from around the world towards personal, spiritual development and how the Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi Society has evolved into an international organisation with increasing influence in both the West and the Muslim world.Trade Review'Ibn Arabi and the Contemporary West tells several remarkable and intertwined stories. In the context of Islamic Studies, it recounts the recent transmission of universal spiritual teachings that were once central to the spread of Islam as a world religion and civilization, but then were lost and often rejected in the aftermath of colonialism, to the UK and the wider English-speaking world; and it concludes with the unexpected ways that spiritual heritage is now being rediscovered by new generations across the Muslim world. In that new, global setting, this study also sketches the background of the multi-faceted, increasingly global adaptation of Ibn 'Arabi's teachings - which for centuries had helped integrate and inspire the burgeoning creative expressions of the Islamic humanities and spirituality across Asia and Africa - by contemporary artists and thinkers working in many of those same fields today: including philosophy, ecology, architecture, psychology, spirituality, and religious thought. And on a more human, immediate level, this is the story of the lasting inspiration and personal influences of a single quiet spiritual teacher and those he inspired, detailing the formation, teachings, and expanding development and outreach of the Beshara movement.' Professor J. W. Morris, Boston CollegeTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Bulent Rauf 2. The Beshara Trust: Early Years 3. Chisholme and Sherborne: The Introduction of Structured Residential Courses 4. An Introduction to the Texts and Teachings of Ibn 'Arabi Used for Study by the Beshara School 5. Recent Beshara Education: The Curses and their Aims 6. Student experiences During and Following the Courses 7. The Pilgrimage through Turkey 8. Outreach 9. The Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi Society Conclusion

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Book SynopsisThe fourth volume of the Anthology of Philosophy in Persia deals with one of the richest and yet least known periods of philosophical life in Persia, the centuries between the seventh/thirteenth century, that saw the eclipse of the school of Khorosan, and the tenth/sixteenth century that coincided with the rise of the Safavids. The main schools dealt with in this volume are the Peripatetic (mashsha'i) School, the School of Illumination (ishraq) of Suhrawardi, and various forms of philosophical Sufism, especially the school of Ibn 'Arabi, that had its origins in the works of Ghazzali and 'Ayn al-Qudat Hamadani. This period was also notable for the philosopher-scientists such as Nasir al-Din Tusi and Qutb al-Din Shirazi.

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Book SynopsisAbout a millennium ago, in Cairo, someone completed a large and richly illustrated book. In the course of thirty-five chapters, our unknown author guided the reader on a journey from the outermost cosmos and planets to Earth and its lands, islands, features and inhabitants. This treatise, known as The Book of Curiosities, was unknown to modern scholars until a remarkable manuscript copy surfaced in 2000. Lost Maps of the Caliphs provides the first general overview of The Book of Curiosities and the unique insight it offers into medieval Islamic thought. Opening with an account of the remarkable discovery of the manuscript and its purchase by the Bodleian Library, the authors use The Book of Curiosities to re-evaluate the development of astrology, geography and cartography in the first four centuries of Islam. Early astronomical ‘maps’ and drawings demonstrate the medieval understanding of the structure of the cosmos and illustrate the pervasive assumption that almost any visible celestial event had an effect upon life on Earth. Lost Maps of the Caliphs also reconsiders the history of global communication networks at the turn of the previous millennium. Not only is The Book of Curiosities one of the greatest achievements of medieval map-making, it is also a remarkable contribution to the story of Islamic civilization.Trade Review'This study is the first overview of a masterpiece of medieval mapmaking and Islamic civilisation.' * Apollo *“With its focus on eleventh-century Fatimid Cairo, 'Lost Maps of the Caliphs' reinterprets early Islamic apprehensions of the earth and the heavens, while reorienting our modern understanding of medieval Arabic mapmaking and its part in the transmission of Late Antique cartographic knowledge. A remarkable and important book of dazzling scholarship.” -- Jerry Brotton * author of A History of the World in Twelve Maps *“The two authors, Savage-Smith on the heavens and Rapoport on the earth, explain 'The Book of Curiosities' with exemplary scholarship and lucidity. Like the manuscript itself, this companion volume vastly enhances our understanding of the classical Arabic worldview in all its rich complexity." -- Hugh N. Kennedy * SOAS, University of London *“'Lost Maps of the Caliphs' is organized along the lines of the original manuscript, and exceptionally well documented, using a dazzling range of sources in an equally dazzling range of languages. The result is totally fascinating, with untold potential to illuminate any treatment of the medieval world on any continent in the Eastern Hemisphere.” -- Ingrid Rowland * University of Notre Dame *

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Book SynopsisFrom the introduction of Greek Philosophy into the Muslim world in the eighth century, right through to modern times, Majid Fakhry charts the evolution and interaction of philosophy, theology, and mysticism in the Islamic context. Highlighting key individuals, movements, concepts and writings, Fakhry also explores the conflicts and controversies between anti- and pro-philosophical parties that have characterised the development of Islamic thought. The book also features coverage of: the translation of ancient texts and their transmission to the Muslim world; the development of a systematic philosophy in Islam; theology, mysticism and the development of Sufism; Islam's interaction with western philosophy and theology; contemporary trends.Trade Review"a concise, meticulous but quite readable overview" "'fakhry writes very clearly, avoiding excessive technial terminology and presenting the mojor arguments succinctly but carefully." " a cogent, clear and highly useful study". * H-MIDEAST-MEDIEVAL *"This introductory work provides the reader with an excellent, concise overview of Islamic philosophy, theology, and mysticism…Fakhry has accomplished presenting the central themes and the essence of 1400 years of intellectual tradition in clear, coherent manner." * Philosophy East and West *

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Book SynopsisAl-Ghazali''s Book of the Lawful and the Unlawful is the fourteenth chapter of The Revival of the Religious Sciences, which is widely considered as the greatest work of Islamic spirituality. Written by one of the most famous of theologian-mystics of all time, The Book of the Lawful and the Unlawful is unlike other Islamic works concerned with legal issues.Here, Abu Hamid al-Ghazali aims to teach his readers firstly the theory of what is lawful and what is unlawful and how to deal with dubious or ambiguous issues, and secondly how to apply the knowledge they have gained to their everyday lives. The main support for this application, especially in matters that are unclear, is caution or prudence (wara) and Ghazali explains the degrees of prudence necessary beginning with the prudence of the upright and ending with the prudence of the saintly. Thus the sincere practice of what is lawful and desisting from what is unlawful become integrated into one''s spiritual life. As in his other works, Ghazali bases himself on the Qur''an and narrations from the Prophet Muhammad, followed by examples from the Companions, the Successor generations and the pious Predecessors.

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Book SynopsisThe Book of Love, Longing, Intimacy and Contentment is the thirty-sixth chapter of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali''s Revival of the Religious Sciences. This was the first treatise which established not merely the possibility but the necessity for the love of God. Ghazali argues that all the virtues and spiritual stages that precede love, like repentance, patience and thankfulness, lead to love; and all the spiritual stages that follow on from love are a result of it. Out of Ghazali''s pioneering treatment would emerge not only new trends in Sufi theory and practice, but an entire body of mystical poetry including that of the great Persian poets Rumi and Hafiz. The translation is preceded by an extensive introduction which sets the work in its historical and spiritual context.

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Book SynopsisAl-Ghazali on Vigilance and Self-examination is the thirty-eighth chapter of the Revival of the Religious Sciences and follows on from Al-Ghazali on Intention, Sincerity & Truthfulness. Here Ghazali focuses on the different stations of steadfastness in religion (murabata), vigilance and self-examination being its cornerstones. As in all his writings, Ghazali bases his arguments on the Qur''an, the example of the Prophet and the sayings of numerous scholars and Sufis.

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Book SynopsisAl-Ghazali on Vigilance and Self-examination is the thirty-eighth chapter of the Revival of the Religious Sciences and follows on from Al-Ghazali on Intention, Sincerity & Truthfulness. Here Ghazali focuses on the different stations of steadfastness in religion (murabata), vigilance and self-examination being its cornerstones. As in all his writings, Ghazali bases his arguments on the Qur''an, the example of the Prophet and the sayings of numerous scholars and Sufis.

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Book SynopsisAl-Ghazali on Conduct in Travel is a translation of the seventeenth book of the Revival of the Religious Sciences. In it, Ghazali explains the different outer and inner reasons for travel. Outer reasons include the pilgrimage, the search for knowledge, and the flight from danger; while inner reasons include the acquisition of virtue and the disciplining of the soul. Ghazali divides travel into four classes, and portrays the right inward and outward conduct for each. He then follows this with 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.

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Book SynopsisAl-Ghazali on Invocations and Supplications is a translation of the ninth chapter of the Revival of the Religious Sciences (Ihya'' ''Ulum al-Din). This chapter falls in the sections dealing with the requirement of religion. The present volume is probably the most widely read compendium of such material, popular not only for its comprehensiveness and beauty, but also for the analytical approach of its author, who explores the psychological and spiritual effects of prayer and the celebration of God''s name.This new third edition includes the invocations and supplications in Arabic for those readers who would like to use them in their prayers and a translation of Imam 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.

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Book SynopsisAl-Ghazali on Poverty and Abstinence is the thirty-fourth chapter 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 Poverty and Abstinence, Abu Hamid al-Ghazali considers two themes dear to Islamic devotional literature: poverty and abstinence. Taking as his example the Prophet''s love for the poor, Ghazali explains that poverty is not simply an accidental state of destitution that might befall anyone but rather an inner acceptance of the Will of God and a form of abstinence for His sake. Thus the life of poverty described by Ghazali in Al-Ghazali on Poverty and Abstinence refers to what every devoted follower of the Prophet is meant to adopt whatever his or her outer state may be.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.

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Book SynopsisThis is the first English translation of the last chapter of the Revival of the Religious Sciences. After expounding his Sufi philosophy of death and showing the importance of the contemplation of human mortality to the mystical way of self-purification, Ghazali takes his readers through the stages of the future life: the vision of the Angels of the Grave, the Resurrection, the Intercession of the Prophet, and finally, the torments of Hell, the delights of Paradise andfor the electthe beatific vision of God''s Countenance.In this new edition, the Islamic Texts Society has included a translation of Imam 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.

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Book SynopsisThe eleventh chapter of the Revival of the Religious Sciences begins the section dealing with man and society. In this volume, concentrating on the manners relating to eating, Ghazali first discusses what a person must uphold when eating by himself: that the food is lawful, that both the person and the surroundings should be clean, that one must be content with what is available, and how the person should conduct himself while eating and after eating. Ghazali then proceeds to discuss eating in company and says that to all the above should be added the necessity of courtesy, conversation and the proper presentation of food. Finally, Ghazali expounds the virtues of hospitality and generosity and the conduct of the host as well as that of the guest. Other topics that are discussed are: abstention from food, fasting and general health.In this new edition, the Islamic Texts Society has included a translation of Imam 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.

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Book Synopsis A Philosopher for All Seasons is an introduction to the life and thought of the mediaeval Persian polymath Nasir al-Din Tusi (d. 1274). Tusi''s scholarly impact on the history of Muslim theoretical and practical wisdom is comparable only to that of Ibn Sina (Avicenna) who served as a model for Tusi''s philosophical and scientific endeavours. During his eventful and controversial career, Tusi produced invaluable texts on almost all the areas of knowledge of the day. He was as interested in the natural world as well as the human and social domains of religion, ethics, logic, astronomy, economics, politics and the arts. Tusi''s intellectual orientation was towards crossing boundaries between Hellenic, Peripatetic, Illuminationist, Twelver, Isma''ili and Sufi discourses. In so doing, he contributed to the formation of a fruitful conversation between different intellectual discourses that led to the redirection of Islamic philosophy towards a more synthetic methodology. His contributions to science, and astronomy in particular, made him the link between Ptolemy and Copernicus and earned him the privilege of having a crater of the Moon named after him, ''Nasireddin''.

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Book SynopsisAl-Ghazali on Invocations and Supplications is a translation of the ninth chapter of the Revival of the Religious Sciences (Ihya'' ''Ulum al-Din). This chapter falls in the sections dealing with the requirement of religion. The present volume is probably the most widely read compendium of such material, popular not only for its comprehensiveness and beauty, but also for the analytical approach of its author, who explores the psychological and spiritual effects of prayer and the celebration of God''s name.This new fourth edition includes the invocations and supplications in Arabic for those readers who would like to use them in their prayers and a translation of Imam 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.

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Book SynopsisThe spiritual life in Islam begins with riyadat al-nafs, the inner warfare against the ego. Distracted and polluted by worldliness, the lower self has a tendency to drag the human creature down into arrogance and vice. Only by a powerful effort of will can the sincere worshipper achieve the purity of soul which enables him to attain God''s proximity.This translation of two chapters from The Revival of the Religious Sciences details the sophisticated spiritual techniques adopted by classical Islam. In the first step, On Disciplining the Soul, which cites copious anecdotes from the Islamic scriptures and biographies of the saints, Ghazali explains how to acquire good character traits, and goes on to describe how the sickness of the heart may be cured.In the second part, Breaking the Two Desires, he focusses on the question of gluttony and sexual desire, concluding, in the words of the Prophet, that ''the best of all matters is the middle way''.The translator has added an introduction and notes which explore Ghazali''s ability to make use of Greek as well as Islamic ethics. The work will prove of special interest to those interested in Sufi mysticism, comparative ethics, and the question of sexuality in Islam.

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Book SynopsisThe book explores the notion of what it is to be Persian and the idea of Persia as a means of investigating the soul of this fascinating nation.

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