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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).
(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
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/
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/
AUTHOR: MARTIN LINGS 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-Book-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199552312/
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/
AUTHOR: KENAN RIFAI
TRANSLATOR: VICTORIA HOLBROOK 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-Sufism-Robert-Frager/dp/006251475X/
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
http://www.omegapub.com/?page_id=89
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
http://www.omegapub.com/?page_id=3004
A book of God’s love by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen: https://www.bmf.org/shop/a-book-of-gods-love/ Tiny little pocket book of wisdom from the luminous Sri Lankan sage who came to America in the 1970s and 1980s.
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/
AUTHOR: CLAUDE ADDAS 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-Chivalry-al-Husayn-al-Sulami/dp/0892813172
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/
By Shems Friedlander. Little cult classic. 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-Dimensions-Islam-Annemarie-Schimmel/dp/B006QIG5NQ/
‘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-Birds-Islamic-Texts-Society/dp/0946621705/
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/
A beautiful anthology of early Arabic Sufi material. https://www.amazon.com/Early-Islamic-Mysticism-Theological-Spirituality/dp/0809136198/
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-Din-Awliya-Classics-Spirituality/dp/080913280X/
Losensky, Paul. Farid ad-Din ‘Attar’s Memorial of God's Friends: Lives and Sayings of Sufis. Lovely anthology of early Sufis. 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
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/
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
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/
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/
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
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
I think I'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.
