Thread by @ostadjaan, A lot of discussions recently about works that present an inaccurate view [...]

A lot of discussions recently about works that present an inaccurate view of Islamic spirituality. I wanted to share a thread on accessible and accurate English primary sources on #Sufis, #Sufism #Islamic #spirituality.
(prioritizing primary sources, not secondary studies).

Love Is the Wine: Talks of a Sufi Master in America. By Sheikh Mozaffar Ozak. Sohbet genre book by a leading 20th century Sufi teacher. https://www.amazon.com/Love-Wine-Talks-Master-America/dp/1935387049">https://www.amazon.com/Love-Wine...

Beauty and Light. By Cemalnur Sargut. Powerful book by a leading female Turkish mystic. https://fonsvitae.com/product/beauty-light-mystical-discourses-contemporary-female-sufi-master/">https://fonsvitae.com/product/b...

Beauty and Light | Cemalnur Sargut | Fons Vitae Publishing

Beauty and Light by Cemalnur Sargut represents the first text in English translation that brings together some of her major discourses and teachings.

https://fonsvitae.com/product/beauty-light-mystical-discourses-contemporary-female-sufi-master/

A Sufi Saint in the Twentieth Century: Shaikh Ahmad al-Alawi – His Spiritual Heritage and Legacy
AUTHOR: MARTIN LINGS https://fonsvitae.com/product/a-sufi-saint-in-the-twentieth-century-shaikh-ahmad-al-alawi-his-spiritual-heritage-and-legacy/">https://fonsvitae.com/product/a...

A Sufi Saint in the Twentieth Century: Shaikh Ahmad al-Alawi - His Spiritual Heritage and Legacy -...

"Almost a prerequisite for any serious study of Sufism in European languages": this was the verdict of Seyyed Hossein Nasr in his review of the first edition of this book. According to the Journal of...

https://fonsvitae.com/product/a-sufi-saint-in-the-twentieth-century-shaikh-ahmad-al-alawi-his-spiritual-heritage-and-legacy/

The first volume of Masnavi, translated by Jawid Mojaddedi.
https://www.amazon.com/Masnavi-Book-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199552312/">https://www.amazon.com/Masnavi-B...

Listen: Commentary on the Spiritual Couplets of Mevlana Rumi. Probably the best one volume English commentary on the Masnavi.
AUTHOR: KENAN RIFAI
TRANSLATOR: VICTORIA HOLBROOK https://fonsvitae.com/product/listen-commentary-on-the-spiritual-couplets-of-mevlana-rumi/">https://fonsvitae.com/product/l...

Listen: Commentary on the Spiritual Couplets of Mevlana Rumi | Fons Vitae

Listen: Commentary on the Spiritual Couplets of Mevlana Rumi, by Kenan Rifai, a commentary by a major learned figure of late Ottoman Sufism.

https://fonsvitae.com/product/listen-commentary-on-the-spiritual-couplets-of-mevlana-rumi/

Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman and Robert Frager. A very accessible introduction.
https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Sufism-Robert-Frager/dp/006251475X/">https://www.amazon.com/Essential...

Gayan by Hazrat Inayat Khan. A poetic and deeply mystical book by the South Asian Sufi who’s usually seen as the first Sufi to have come to the West.
http://www.omegapub.com/?page_id=89 ">https://www.omegapub.com/...

Madeline: Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan. Heartbreakingly beautiful book about the life and teachings of Noor-Un-Nisa, Sufi woman, musician, and spy whose chivalrous bravery in resisting the Nazis led to her martyrdom.
http://www.omegapub.com/?page_id=3004 ">https://www.omegapub.com/...

A book of God’s love by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen: https://www.bmf.org/shop/a-book-of-gods-love/">https://www.bmf.org/shop/a-bo... Tiny little pocket book of wisdom from the luminous Sri Lankan sage who came to America in the 1970s and 1980s.

A Book of God’s Love

“True Love, Forgiveness, Cultivating the Heart, and Eternal Youth”; comprise a collection of discourses that offer a glimpse into some of the wonders of God. The nature and mystery of God’s love is…

https://www.bmf.org/shop/a-book-of-gods-love/

Quest for the Red Sulphur: The Life of Ibn ‘Arabi. Best one volume biography of Ibn ‘Arabi.
AUTHOR: CLAUDE ADDAS https://fonsvitae.com/product/quest-for-the-red-sulphur-the-life-of-ibn-arabi/">https://fonsvitae.com/product/q...

Quest for the Red Sulphur: The Life of Ibn ‘Arabi - Fons Vitae Publishing

Quest for the Red Sulphur: The Life of Ibn Arabi is undoubtedly a landmark in Ibn Arabi studies. Until the publication of this book, anyone who wanted to learn about the life of Ibn Arabi has had...

https://fonsvitae.com/product/quest-for-the-red-sulphur-the-life-of-ibn-arabi/

The Way of Sufi chivalry by al-Sulami. Beautiful book on Sufi friendship and companionship.
https://www.amazon.com/Way-Sufi-Chivalry-al-Husayn-al-Sulami/dp/0892813172">https://www.amazon.com/Way-Sufi-...

When You Hear Hoofbeats Think of a Zebra
By Shems Friedlander. Little cult classic. https://www.amazon.com/When-Hear-Hoofbeats-Think-Zebra/dp/0939214067/">https://www.amazon.com/When-Hear...

When You Hear Hoofbeats Think of a Zebra

When You Hear Hoofbeats Think of a Zebra

https://www.amazon.com/When-Hear-Hoofbeats-Think-Zebra/dp/0939214067/

Annemarie Schimmel. Mystical Dimensions of Islam. A secondary study that reads like a primary source. A beautiful written masterpiece that stands the test of time.
https://www.amazon.com/Mystical-Dimensions-Islam-Annemarie-Schimmel/dp/B006QIG5NQ/">https://www.amazon.com/Mystical-...

‘Attar, Speech of the Birds. Complete translation of ‘Attar’s masterpiece Manteq al-Tayr.
https://www.amazon.com/Speech-Birds-Islamic-Texts-Society/dp/0946621705/">https://www.amazon.com/Speech-Bi...

Sells, Michael A. Early Islamic Mysticism: Sufi, Qur‘an, Mi‘raj, Poetic and Theological Writing.
A beautiful anthology of early Arabic Sufi material. https://www.amazon.com/Early-Islamic-Mysticism-Theological-Spirituality/dp/0809136198/">https://www.amazon.com/Early-Isl...

Nizam Ad-Din Awliya: Morals for the Heart. Translated by Bruce Lawrence. Beautiful book on the life of the most influential South Asian Sufi, of the Chishti order.
https://www.amazon.com/Nizam-Ad-Din-Awliya-Classics-Spirituality/dp/080913280X/">https://www.amazon.com/Nizam-Ad-...

Losensky, Paul. Farid ad-Din ‘Attar’s Memorial of God& #39;s Friends: Lives and Sayings of Sufis. Lovely anthology of early Sufis. https://www.amazon.com/Farid-ad-Din-Attars-Memorial-Friends/dp/0809145731">https://www.amazon.com/Farid-ad-...

Farid ad-Din 'Attar's Memorial of God's Friends: Lives and Sayings of Sufis (Classics of Western...

Farid ad-Din 'Attar's Memorial of God's Friends: Lives and Sayings of Sufis (Classics of Western Spirituality (Paperback))

https://www.amazon.com/Farid-ad-Din-Attars-Memorial-Friends/dp/0809145731

Uruc Guvenc, Oceans of Remembrance. All-time favorite Sufi CD by a master Sufi and musician. OK, I know people don’t buy CDs anymore. But this is a must. Download, go to spotify, whatever.

Women of Sufism: A Hidden Treasure by Camille Helminski. https://www.amazon.com/Women-Sufism-Camille-Adams-Helminski/dp/1570629676">https://www.amazon.com/Women-Suf...

Ok, I’ll include my own anthology of Sufi wisdom from the Path of Radical Love. Called, what else, but: Radical Love: Teachings from the Islamic Mystical Tradition. This will help you see where Rumi comes from: https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Love-Teachings-Mystical-Tradition/dp/030024861X/">https://www.amazon.com/Radical-L...

Radical Love: Teachings from the Islamic Mystical Tradition

Radical Love: Teachings from the Islamic Mystical Tradition

https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Love-Teachings-Mystical-Tradition/dp/030024861X/

If you want something video-based, check out my own online course “heart of Rumi’s Poetry”, and more courses coming soon, insha’allah: https://www.illuminatedcourses.com/theheartofrumispoetry">https://www.illuminatedcourses.com/thehearto...

Online Course: The Heart of Rumi's Poetry by Omid Safi

Journey to the heart of Rumi’s poetry. This online course will accompany you through the key teachings of Rumi from his masterpiece, the Masnavi. Sufism. Sufi. Mesnevi. Mevlana.

https://www.illuminatedcourses.com/theheartofrumispoetry

Early Sufi Women. AUTHOR: ABU ‘ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-SULAMI
TRANSLATOR: RKIA ELAROUI CORNELL https://fonsvitae.com/product/early-sufi-women-a-bilingual-critical-edition-of-as-sulamis-dhikr-an-niswa-al-muta-abbitdat-as-sufiyyat/">https://fonsvitae.com/product/e...

Early Sufi Women: A bilingual critical edition of as-Sulami's Dhikr an-Niswa al-Muta 'abbidat...

Early Sufi Women is the earliest known work in Islam devoted entirely to women's spirituality. Written by the Persian Sufi Abu 'Abd ar-Rahman as-Sulami (d. 1021), this long-lost work provides...

https://fonsvitae.com/product/early-sufi-women-a-bilingual-critical-edition-of-as-sulamis-dhikr-an-niswa-al-muta-abbitdat-as-sufiyyat/

Caravan of Souls;
An Introduction to the Sufi Path of Hazrat Inayat KhanCaravan-of-Souls-web
Compiled and edited by Pir Zia Inayat-Khan
http://www.omegapub.com/?page_id=65 ">https://www.omegapub.com/...

I think I& #39;ll stop here. Remember that any such short thread is selective and partial. These are some of the works that have spoken to my heart. May they touch yours. <3 Blessings, and joy.

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