Perspectives on Early Islamic Mysticism

This monograph explores the original literary produce of Muslim mystics during the 8th -10th centuries, with special attention to 9th c. mystics, such as al-Tustari, al-Muhasibi, al-Kharraz, al-Junayd and, in particular, al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi.

Autorentext

Sara Sviri is Professor Emerita at the Department of Arabic and the Department of Comparative Religions of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She had also taught at the Department of Hebrew and Jewish Studies, University College London and at The Institute of Jewish Studies, University of Oxford. Her fields of study include Islamic mysticism, mystical philosophy, comparative aspects of Early Islam, the formative period of Islamic mysticism, Medieval Jewish mysticism and the mystical wisdom of Ibn al-Arab. Her book The Taste of Hidden Things: Images on the Sufi Path was published in 1997. Her comprehensive Sufi Anthology was published in Hebrew in 2008. The Arabic version of the Anthology came out in Beirut by Manshrt al-jamal (2016).

Inhalt

Introduction: perspectives on Early Islamic Mysticism the world of al-akm al-Tirmidh and his contemporaries

Part I Asceticism and mysticism (zuhd and taawwuf)

1. 'Sufism': reconsidering terms, definitions and processes

2. Zuhd in Islamic mysticism: conduct and attitude

3. "Wa-rahbniyyatan ibtadah": monasticism and asceticism false and sincere

P**art IISchools and teachers**

4. Al-akm al-Tirmidh and the Malmats of Nshpr

5. Teachers and disciples in Baghdd and Nshpr

6. Facing hostility in Transoxiana: Al-akm al-Tirmidh and Muammad ibn al-Fal

Part III Polarity

7. Between fear and hope: coincidence of opposites in Islamic mysticism

8. The self (nafs) and her transformation

9. Faces of al-aqq: the name and the named

Part IV The Spiritual Hierarchy

10. Wilya: contemplating friendship with God

11. Myrtle and holy men: echoes of ancient traditions in a woman's dream

Part V Language and Hermeneutics

12. The power of words: mystical linguistics in al-akm al-Tirmidh

13. The Countless Faces of Understanding: Istinb, listening and exegesis

Bibliography