What is Sufism? (Islamic Texts Society) - Softcover

Lings, Martin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0946621411 ISBN 13: 9780946621415

Publisher: Islamic Texts Society, 1999

Synopsis

Martin Lings provides an excellent and authoritative introduction to the mystical movement of the Sufis based on his lifelong interest in Islamic culture. His explanation derives from a profound understanding of Sufism, and extends to many aspects which are usually neglected. His illuminating answer to 'What is Sufism?' gives a taste of the very subject matter itself. What do Sufis believe? What do they aim at? What do they do? Unlike other writers on the subject, Martin Lings treats all the three questions with equal justice. He is thus able to give a wealth of answers to the main question 'What is Sufism?', each answer being from a different angle but all going to the root of the matter. A reviewer wrote 'Should the book appear in paperback, I would use it for undergraduate and graduate courses on Islamic civilization', and in fact What is Sufism? has become a set book in colleges and universities on both sides of the Atlantic. It is now accepted as the authoritative statement on the subject of Sufism and it has been translated into French, German, Italian and Spanish. It has also been published in Sarajevo in Bosnian, and is available in Braille.

About this title

About the Author:

The late Dr Lings, formerly Keeper of Oriental Manuscript in the British Museum and the British Library, is the author of two works on Islamic mysticism, The Book of Certainty and A Sufi Saint of the Twentieth Century, both published by the Islamic Texts Society. His Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources, also published by the Islamic Texts Society, has been internationally acclaimed as a masterpiece.

Review:

'The discussion of Sufi aims, psychology, doctrine and method is original (many previously untranslated texts are cited), sensitive and readable. The mood of Sufism is conveyed here with a clarity that is rare, even unique, yet is done in a responsible, non-proselytizing manner.'

'He has treated all the most important features of Sufism with a degree of profundity and understanding rarely to be found among modern writers.'

'It is an invaluable contribution to the study of the subject and may well become a standard textbook... Highly recommended.'

'The book is a sheer delight to read, and is here recommended unreservedly to the adept as well as to the layman.'

About this edition

• Publisher: Islamic Texts Society
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0946621411
• ISBN 13: 9780946621415
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 134