Islamic groups: Sufis Books

Book Synopsis"Wherever it may be, the candle burns, and in burning it gives others light. That is the way you must be." When the soul burns with love, the ego softens like wax and dissolves, and others benefit by the light it transmits. So taught Pir Rasheed Kaleemi, a Sufi master who lived in Hyderabad, India. The Merciful Door narrates what his American disciple learned from him over a decade of living in India and translating his teachings into practice in America. This book, born out of a direct request from Pir Rasheed himself, records the intimate conversations, mystical teachings, spiritual practices, and Qawwali songs that they shared. How is the soul related to the spirit? What is the body and how do we discover its hidden treasures? What is the eternal sound and how do we listen of it in music and in nature? How can we navigate interpersonal challenges, gender difference, sexual desire, political conflict and religious fundamentalism? The Sufi teacher offers his disciple insights from the Quran, the Prophet Muhammad''s example, and the rich depths of Sufi poetry in Persian and Urdu to illuminate these questions and other guidance. The book also reveals teachings of the Kaleemi Order, which combines Chishti and Qadiri initiations, with ancient roots in Arabia and India and modern global branches.

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Book SynopsisSheikh Abdullah Sirr-Dan al-Jamal, who taught in London in the late 20th century, was almost unique among Sufis in being a Westerner who guided Western followers. Written from his pupils'' own testimony, The School of Celestial Fire not only presents something of his teaching as it was experienced by those who lived, and hopefully learned, in his company. It also incorporates rare material by Sheikh Abdullah himself which indicates the vastness of the Sufi spiritual heritage - the inner jewel of Islam. The Sheikh makes plain that the goal of mystical training is not personal power. Rather it is, in his words, ''a direct experience derived from feeling the love of God in practical terms through the pursuit of the spiritual science imparted by the master as knowledge of his energy and emulation of his actions and mode of life''. Such is the process described in this book.

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Book SynopsisSheikh Abdullah Sirr-Dan al-Jamal, who taught in London in the late 20th century, was almost unique among Sufis in being a Westerner who guided Western followers.Written from his pupils'' own testimony, The School of Celestial Fire not only presents something of his teaching as it was experienced by those who lived, and hopefully learned, in his company. It also incorporates rare material by Sheikh Abdullah himself which indicates the vastness of the Sufi spiritual heritage - the inner jewel of Islam. The Sheikh makes plain that the goal of mystical training is not personal power. Rather it is, in his words, ''a direct experience derived from feeling the love of God in practical terms through the pursuit of the spiritual science imparted by the master as knowledge of his energy and emulation of his actions and mode of life''.Such is the process described in this book.

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Book SynopsisThe origin of Sufism -- Self criticism; Reflection; Privacy and seclusion; Heart; Hope or expectation; Asceticism. People follow the Sufi path when they sense that Islam has a deeper dimension. The resulting self-purification leads to this inner dimension of Islamic rituals, a deeper understanding of the Divine acts, and a greater knowledge and love of Him. After this, God draws the novice to Himself. With the help of a spiritual guide, the novice begins the life-long journey back to God. This continual process of spiritual development along a path of the innate human poverty, helplessness, and powerlessness before God is undertaken in the knowledge that everything comes from God. Each novice does what is necessary to grow spiritually, and God bestows the appropriate blessings and stations. The highest aim of creation and its most sublime result is belief in God. The most exalted rank of humanity is knowledge of God. The most radiant happiness and sweetest bounty for jinn and humanity is love of God contained within the knowledge of God; the purest joy for the human spirit and the purest delight for the human heart is spiritual ecstasy contained within the love of God. Indeed, all true happiness, pure joy, sweet bounties, and unclouded pleasure are contained within the knowledge and love of God. And Sufism is the school where people can realise the highest aim of creation.

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Book SynopsisThis concise book seeks to make available to the public what may be called "the other side of Islam - not the violent aspect appearing in the nightly news headlines which focus on radical terrorists, but the long and rich tradition at the heart of Islamic spirituality known as Sufism. With great lucidity and clarity, Stoddart offers a succinct, yet comprehensive overview of Sufism's fundamental doctrines and spiritual practices, which are followed by many millions of Muslims throughout the world. Known for his capacity to give clear explanations of unfamiliar and complex material, Stoddart emphasises the importance of the role of art and beauty, highlights its intricate symbolism and explains the central role of the invocation of the Name of God in Sufi spiritual practice; an appendix includes central Koranic, Prophetic and traditional Sufi sayings. This new edition is based upon an earlier and much shorter book Stoddart wrote 35 years ago, which was highly acclaimed by leading experts in the field of Islamic Studies. Harvard professor Annemarie Schimmel remarked that it was "Useful ... adorned with many good illustrations ... (and) contains many important points clearly expressed."

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Book SynopsisThe Algerian warrior and Sufi saint, Emir Abd el-Kader, shows his spiritual qualities in the fight against the French colonial authorities. "The New York Times" called the Emir "one of the few great men of the century," while Abraham Lincoln and Pope Pius IX both commended the Emir for rescuing 15,000 Christians while in exile in Damascus.Trade ReviewEmir Abd el-Kader was one of the most remarkable figures in recent Islamic history, combining perfection in both the active and the contemplative life, an achievement that remains of great significance today for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The study of this figure by Bouyerdene is one of the best in the field and is likely to draw even greater attention to this hero and saint." -- Seyyed Hossein Nasr, The George Washington University, author of Sufi Essays and The Heart of Islam Groundbreaking, inspiring, and timely, this biography documents the life of the unsung hero of Algerian nationalism. Emir Abd el-Kader was a compassionate warrior and negotiator with the French, as well as a defender of religious minorities in the Ottoman Empire. Ahmed Bouyerdene's scholarly yet accessible work is an eloquent testimony that religion can be a galvanizing force for the greater good as we work toward building bridges between the Muslim world and the West." -- Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, author of What's Right with Islam and Moving the Mountain Abd el-Kader's most renowned deed was the rescue, at great risk to his own life, of over 10,000 Christians who were under all-out onslaught from an army of Druze in Damascus in 1860, an act which attracted the warm acclaim of such figures as Abraham Lincoln, Pope Pius IX, and Napoleon III. The present book centers on Abd el-Kader's inner life, his knowledge of Sufi mysticism, and his practice of unceasing mental prayer. This book displays the real Islam to a world whose knowledge of Islam is 'Islamic' terrorism." -- William Stoddart, author of What Does Islam Mean in Today's World? Few figures from the last centuries can be considered as embodying the breadth and depth of a whole spiritual tradition, indeed of an entire civilization, as did the Emir Abd el-Kader. Ahmed Bouyerdene's beautiful biography testifies to an Islam lived up to its most elevated and heroic reaches, an Islam that challenges the narrowness of too many of its fierce critics and zealots alike." -- Patrick Laude In this superb biography of the life and teachings of the Emir Abd el-Kader one finds brilliantly manifested the deepest ideals of the Islamic faith. It is for this reason that he continues to be regarded in our times as the Muslim hero par excellencea hero in whom the most noble chivalry was combined with the metaphysical insights of a true sage, and the spiritual graces of a realized saint." -- Reza Shah-Kazemi, Managing Editor, Encyclopaedia Islamica, author of Paths to Transcendence and The Other in the Light of the One This biography of the great Algerian leaderadmired in his lifetime not only by his contemporaries such as President Lincoln, but also by his foeswill help us to rediscover in our own times the true spirit of Islam and to gain a better appreciation of the meaning of the misunderstood term jihad, whose qualities of nobility and magnanimity in the face of strife, were exemplified by the Emir's life." -- M. Ali Lakhani, editor of Sacred Web, and author of The Timeless Relevance of Traditional Wisdom This book is an excellent overview of the Emir's life, spirituality, and times. In an era of widespread misunderstanding about Islam, this biography provides a refreshing portrait of a classic 'defender of the faith' who was as fiercely dedicated to Muslim chivalry as he was to opposing colonial occupation, and who took full responsibility for the protection of the innocent and vulnerable, no matter their religion or birthplace." -- Roger Gaetani This wonderful and much-needed translation conveys the beauty and majesty of the original. It is an accessible and at times exhilarating account of a seemingly legendary individual. The translator's excellent introduction situates the life of the Emir in the political crosscurrents of his time and spiritual undercurrents of Islam, demonstrating how the former never compromised the latter. Through this work, one gains a true vision of the chivalry and sanctity that defines Islam when practiced in all its depth and breadth." -- Joseph Lumbard, Brandeis University, editor of Islam, Fundamentalism, and the Betrayal of Tradition

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Book SynopsisJalal al-Din Rumi (1207-73), founder of the Mevlevi Sufi order of Whirling Dervishes," is the best-selling poet in America today. The wide-ranging appeal of his work is such that UNESCO declared 2007 to be International Rumi Year." However, his writings represent much more than love poetry. Rumi was one of the preeminent thinkers of Sufism, the esoteric form of Islam. In this groundbreaking collection of 13 essays on Rumi, many of the world's leading authorities in the field of Islamic Studies and Persian Literature discuss the major religious themes in his poetry and teachings. In addition to discussing the ideas of love, ecstasy, and music in Rumi's Sufi poetry, the essays offer new historical and theological perspectives on his work. The immortality of the soul, freewill, the nature of punishment and reward, and the relationship of Islam to Christianity are all covered, in order to bring Rumi's poetry properly into the context of the Sufi tradition to which he belonged.Trade ReviewThe message of Rumi serves as a beacon of light to dispel the shadows which prevent modern man from seeing even his own image in its true form, and from knowing who he really is." -- Seyyed Hossein Nasr, The George Washington University, author of Sufi Essays and The Heart of Islam Jalaluddin Rumi, better known simply as Rumi, was perhaps the finest Persian poet of all time and a great influence on Muslim writing and culture. His poetry is still well known throughout the modern world, and he is one of the best selling poets in America." BBC The phenomenal interest in Rumi begins with the fact that in the West today we are spiritually starved... We're reaching out for more and [Rumi] persuades us that there is an alternate reality that transcends, exceeds, and surpasses in every way this mundane mode of existence." -- Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions

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Book SynopsisAt the very heart of Islam lies the spiritual way of Sufism. Far removed from the negative portrayal of Islam in the headlines, Sufism is rooted in the harmonious qualities of peace, love, beauty, and wisdom. Its primary focus is to return human beings to unity with God. This select treasury of Sufi wisdom includes nearly 400 short sayings from as many as 100 of the greatest Sufi saints and sages in history, covering a vast span of 1,400 years. It includes notable sayings from well-known figures such as Rabiah, al-Hallaj, Junayd, al-Ghazali, Ibn al-Farid, Ibn Arabi, Rumi, and Ahmad al-Alawi. Also featured are over 150 verses from the Koran and the Hadith (Prophetic sayings), which form the foundational sources of this esoteric form of Islam. Whether expressing itself in pithy paradoxical aphorisms, extended intellectual instruction, or rapturous mystical poetry, this compendium of Sufi wisdom will illuminate the spiritual traveler's way of return to God.Trade ReviewThis work serves as a sure guide for the understanding of authentic Sufi doctrine and the principles of the method of reaching the Truth which the doctrine explains and to whose realization it points." -- Seyyed Hossein Nasr, The George Washington University, author of Sufi Essays and The Heart of Islam For anyone drawn to the metaphysics of Sufism, as seen from the perspective of divine unity, this is a rich collection of valuable insights." -- Carl W. Ernst, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, author of How to Read the Qur'an and Teachings of Sufism This is a wonderful selection of texts focusing on the tight connection made in Islam between theory and practice, or knowing the truth of God and living in His presence." -- William C. Chittick, State University of New York, Stony Brook, author of The Sufi Path of Knowledge and The Sufi Doctrine of Rumi This is a Sufi volume with a difference! Scholars and students alike will be intrigued, charmed and educated by the wide range of well-chosen Sufi materials contained in this fascinating volume." -- Ian Richard Netton, University of Exeter, author of Sufi Ritual This elegant and well-chosen anthology of Sufi texts is not only a delight to read, but provides one of the most accessible and useful general introductions to Sufi metaphysics available in English. The emphasis on the mystical fruitfulness of the Qur'anic texts is especially welcome." -- Timothy J. Winter, Cambridge Muslim College, co-author of Understanding Islam and the Muslims This work brings together some of the most profound and transformative words of wisdom that unveil the mystical heart of the Islamic faith, referred to as Sufism. Given the media coverage of Islam, it is not surprising that many people, all over the world, are wondering how it is that well over one billion Muslims can believe in and practice the religion of Islam: this book will provide a wonderfully clear and spiritually compelling answer." -- Reza Shah-Kazemi, Managing Editor, Encyclopaedia Islamica, author of Paths to Transcendence and The Other in the Light of the One Drawing on over one hundred different sources and classical texts, Peter Samsel has assembled a superb collection of Sufi sayings, anecdotes, aphorisms and poems, hadith and Qur'anic citations concerning divine Unity and the contemplative discipline of invocation of God (dhikr) in Sufism. The author's own extremely original and insightful analysis of the doctrine of Unity in Sufism reveals the ecumenism at the heart of exoteric Muslim fideism." -- Leonard Lewisohn, University of Exeter, editor of The Philosophy of Ecstasy This remarkably wide-ranging volume ... [provides] an inspiring and thought-provoking collection of spiritual wisdom and insights drawn from the Qur'an, hadith, and more than a hundred classical Sufi authors and teachers, together representing all the major genres of Islamic spiritual writing." -- James W. Morris, Boston College, author of The Reflective Heart

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