Description
Book SynopsisThis volume discusses the origin and structure of the universe in mystical Islam (Sufism) with special reference to parallel realms of existence and their interaction. Contributors address Sufi ideas about the fate of human beings in this and future life under three rubrics: (1) cosmogony and eschatology (“where do we come from?” and “where do we go?”); (2) conceptualizations of the world of the here-and-now (“where are we now?”); and (3) visualizations of realms of existence, their hierarchy and mutual relationships (“where are we in relation to other times and places?”). Contributors are Christian Lange, Alexander Knysh, Noah Gardiner, Stephen Hirtenstein, Saeko Yazaki, Jean-Jacques Thibon, Leah Kinberg, Sara Sviri, Munjed M. Murad, Simon O’Meara, Pierre Lory, Mathieu Terrier, Michael Ebstein, Binyamin Abrahamov and Frederick Colby.
Table of ContentsContents List of Figures Abbreviations Notes on Contributors Introduction: What Is Sufi Cosmology? Christian Lange and Alexander Knysh Part 1: Sufi Cosmogony and Eschatology 1 Cosmo-Eschatology in Sufi Thought and Practice Noah Gardiner 2 Cosmogonic Myths in Sufism Stephen Hirtenstein 3 Classes of Beings in Sufism Saeko Yazaki 4 Sufi Views on Time and History Jean-Jacques Thibon 5 Sufi Views of Life in the Grave Leah Kinberg 6 Paradise in Sufi Thought Christian Lange 7 Hell in Sufi Thought Christian Lange Part 2: Sufi Views of the World 8 Zuhd in Islamic Mysticism Sara Sviri 9 Sufi Views of Nature Munjed M. Murad 10 Mecca and Other Cosmological Centres in the Sufi Universe Simon O’Meara 11 Macrocosm and Microcosm in Sufi Thought Pierre Lory 12 The Cosmo-Eschatology of Saints and Mahdīs Noah Gardiner Part 3: Levels of Being in Sufi Thought 13 Sufi Hierarchies of the Worlds or Levels of Existence: Mulk, Malakūt, Jabarūt, and Related Concepts Mathieu Terrier 14 Emanation (Fayḍ) in Classical Islamic Mysticism Michael Ebstein 15 Levels of Being in Sufi Thought Richard Todd 16 Imagination in Islamic Mystical Philosophy: The Eschatological and Ontological Case Binyamin Abrahamov 17 Otherworldly Journeys in Pre-Modern Sufism Frederick Colby Index
