Product Description
Part meditation book, part oracle, and part collection of Sufi lore, poetry, and stories, The Sufi Book of Life offers a fresh interpretation of the fundamental spiritual practice found in all ancient and modern Sufi schools—the meditations on the 99 Qualities of Unity. Unlike most books on Sufism, which are primarily collections of translated Sufi texts, this accessible guide is a handbook that explains how to apply Sufi principles to modern life. With inspirational commentary that connects each quality with contemporary concerns such as love, work, and success, as well as timeless wisdom from Sufi masters, both ancient and modern, such as Rumi, Hafiz, Shabistari, Rabia, Inayat Khan, Indries Shah, Irina Tweedie, Bawa Muhaiyadden, and more, The Sufi Book of Life is a dervish guide to life and love for the twenty-first century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Nourishing blessed Names of Allah
The Sufi Book of Life 99 Pathways of the Heart for the Modern Dervish, by Saadi Shakur Christi, is an enriching experience beginning with the Names of Allah in Arabic and expanding the translation to a myriad of interpretations and inspirational lights. There is so much to find about yourself within the pages of this mystical book that opens up the Quran to anyone who is fortunate and receives this inspiration. The chapters begin with a name of God, and open up other meanings to ponder, bringing the seeker into a deeper reflecion and meaningful insight about ordinary experience. Somehow the concept of an oracle holds true with this book if you are led to it or gifted with this, as it is based on the names of God. I already like if not love this book, and I have only had it for a couple of days.

Awe Inspiring
This book has become a daily Oracle for me. Each pathway offers a rich perspective of life. It brings clarity and insight to each and everyday. My favorite is the pathway Assessing What Is.. how true it was for me especially in my life.We get so wrapped up in everyday drama that we forget the pathway of present moment. If offers so much heart energy. This book offers a pathway to inner peace and gives you the tools to travel this enlightened path. This was my first introduction to the Sufi tradition. I take this book with me everywhere.

Susan Mavity, Author The Light Within, The Gift Of A Rose

What?There is no index to find any of the 99 names?
The translations of the 99 names of Allah in the Islamic tradition are presented here.Other reviewers have pointed out the the materials used in producing the book, the newsprint and binding are inferior.(My copy looks very yellowed like at least 50 years old).

But the MOST frustrating thing about this book is that if you know one of the 99 names and want to look it up you can't.Well, you would have to flip through the entire book because there is no index with the names.The index in the front contains only a few word description about the name but not the name itself.And from an early commenter to this review I do understand that the author intended that using this book would be more in an inspriation or oracular fashion.However, where meaningful and topical information is provided in a book it is bad form as an author to insist that the reader approach your work through a set of limited filters.

In some of the authors other works, such as Prayers of the Cosmos: Reflections on the Original Meaning of Jesus's Words the author gets himself into trouble by using a very liberal and unstructured translation approach and turns one word into twenty.In this book he is more direct in his conveyance and generally stays on target.

If you are new to the topic of Sufism much better books are The Heart of Sufism and Awakening: A Sufi Experience .

The Sufi Book of Life: 99 Pathways of the Heart
This is an excellent book. Actually, I already have a copy; I bought this one for a friend. The author (Saadi-Sufi name) combines stories and poetry along with concise and clear descriptions of the 99 Names - a most excellent combination. I highly recommend this book.

Strength in writing
This book is a great way to gain a different outlook on situations that you may be having trouble dealing with. It is really well written and the direct translation of the names is an added bonus. It has certainly helped me get perspective on many things in my life. ... Read more

Product Description
First published in 1964, Idries Shah's definitivework, 'The Sufis', completely overturned Western misconceptionsof Sufism, revealing a great spiritual and psychological traditionencompassing many of the world's greatest thinkers: Rumi, OmarKhayyam, Ibn El-Arabi, Al-Ghazzali, Sadi, Attar, Francis of Assisiand many others.

The spiritual and psychological tradition of Sufism was regarded,before this pioneering book was published, as the preserve ofecstatic religionists and a small number of Oriental scholars, whotreated it in the main as a minority cult.

'The Sufis' is the pivotal work which heralded the revelation of theastonishing richness and variety of Sufi thought and its contributionto human culture contained in Idries Shah's many books on thesubject.

The astonishing impact of Sufism on the development of Westerncivilization from the seventh century is traced through the work ofRoger Bacon, John of the Cross, Raymond Lully, and Chaucer.Many of the greatest traditions, ideas and discoveries of the Westare traced to the teachings and writings of Sufi masters workingcenturies ago.

But 'The Sufis' is far more than an historical account.In the tradition of the great Sufi classics, the deeper appeal of thisremarkable book is in its ability to function as an active instrumentof instruction, in a way that is so clearly relevant to our time andculture.

Today, studies in Sufism, notably through Shah's research andpublication, are pursued in centers of higher learning throughout theworld, in the fields of psychology, sociology, anthropology, andmany other areas of current human concern. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

Hits and misses
It seems a lot of the negative reviews here focus on Shah's authenticity or credentials as a Sufi master, but I don't see how this really has much bearing on the book itself.

This is basically a straightforward introduction to Sufism, usually described as the mystical or esoteric tradition within Islam. Here Shah goes a step further to claim that Sufism is, in fact, the oldest and only true religion - and all true religion is Sufism. That is, it's an esoteric system or worldview which sees humanity's true status as divine and true potential as far beyond what we currently tend to occupy our lives with.

The actual content is hit or miss. There are many examples of classic "Sufi tales," or fables/parables/allegories of one kind or another, some enlightening and entertaining, others dull. Shah also fits in a large number of short biographies of some of the most famous and important Sufis, such as Rumi and Ibn Arabi among many others. Finally he attempts to explain various esoteric aspects of the tradition and this is probably where the book becomes the most contentious. Chapters such as those on numerology and 'mystical etymologies' of various words used in Sufi poetry and the Qur'an, and so on, left me cold. It all seems not only implausible but childish. But in general the content is good, though the chapters vary greatly in quality and seem to have little if anything to do with one another.

Still, as others have said, this was an enormously influential book and will certainly give you a decent overview, with lots to think about and many names/books/ideas to research further if and when you have the inclination. With that in mind it serves its purpose as a general intro quite admirably, even if at times it stretches credulity or drags. More or less recommended.

If you want to learn a little bit of history...
This book, although at times very hard to read the first time around, is a great insight into the history of a people who followed a way that has existed since the beginning of time.This book is recommended for anyone who has heard of the Sufis because of the rise of the so called "new age" movement gaining ground.Idres Shah delivers in this historical book with great stories as well as significant historical preferences that paints a clear picture of where the artform of alchemy and the occult originated from.Insightful, informative, funny, and fun to read, the Sufis has proven to be a gem in my ever expanding and ever growing library.

The City of Delightful Nonsense
Idries Shah published a series of books on Sufi subjects beginning in the late 60's. Many of them, like "Tales of the Dervishes" and "Thinkers of the East", are entirely delightful, collections of Islamic stories and wisdom very difficult to find elsewhere.

This book was central, setting out his version of Sufism in overview. It is a ton of fun, intriguing and thought-provoking. It shines a fascinating light on little-known corners of history. It is also completely and utterly bogus. If you want to learn about real Sufism, this is not the book for you. It bears the same relation to Sufism that "The Da Vinci Code" does to Gospel scholarship or "Ancient Astronaut" books to archaeology.

Shah's Sufism was uncannily calculated to appeal to intelligent Westerners, but he was not all he seemed. He was born in Bristol; though he claimed to be a Master of the Naqshbandiyya Sufi Order, no-one else in the order had ever heard of him. In her authoritative "Mystical Dimensions of Islam" Annemarie Schimmel devotes a footnote to warning the reader to avoid Shah's works.

I wouldn't be so snitchy. This book at least introduced people to some of the great names of Sufism. Read it for fun, read it for interest, but don't take it seriously. I give three stars for entertainment value; zero stars for authenticity.

Practical spirituality for those who really want it ...
I read The Sufis long ago, and thought "Now I can see what everybody's doing wrong!"

Then I read more of Shah's books and The Sufis again, and thought "Well, I should apply it to myself, too!"

Then I read more of his books, and The Sufis again, and thought "So that's what he means!"I then saw some reviews on Amazon, saying that Shah was a charlatan, or that he had certain off-color connections and motivations - and I thought, "Ooh, what does this mean about my guy?"

Then it occurred to me to wonder how they would know about those connections etc. if they didn't even know Shah or his family ... And then I stopped worrying about that, and anyway, I noticed that "my guy" idea of mine, and realized that it was an unfounded yet revealing presupposition that were best set aside without further delay.

More recently, I also realized that the Sufis would be trying to help interested people make progress without worrying about all the extraneous stuff. So if they are real, and if what they talk about is also real, then they would do whatever it takes to achieve the goal without hurting anyone's prospects of progress, whether people understood it or not.

My latest thought is "So are they real, and is it real? Some will deny it and others will support it, saying 'Decide for yourself,' and they themselves will calmly say that they wish for you that you may find what you're looking for." And I'll undoubtedly have further thoughts in the future.

Understanding Sufism
This book is a stellar presentation about Sufism.It has really given me a comprehensive understanding of a topic that has long interested me as an aspect of mysticism without my feeling that I know much about it -- despite reading a fair amount.Most presentations are rather nonspecific, but Idries Shah makes a chapter of each of many specific issues to create a whole that gives me a really consistent picture of sufism.His analysis would, I think, appeal to someone with an analytic approach to things as well as to someone with a more "spiritual" approach as he shows how a person who truly understands sufism would use both at appropriate stages in his growth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A bright light of love
Excellent translation of and introduction to the works of Rumi regarding the end of false religion, the experience of the ocean of unity, the wholeness of God and His creation, the source of Life itself, the meaning beyond form.

Or to quote the words of Bohm a physicist:
One of the most impressive theories emerging out of scientific cosmology respecting the ancient truth was set forth by the late physicist, David Bohm in his book, Wholeness and the Implicate Order. Using the language of mathematics, Bohm set out to describe the transcendent reality and its graded energetic hierarchy in four basic states or orders of energy beginning with the physical world, which he called the Explicate Order. "The Explicate Order, weakest of all energy systems, resonates out of and is an expression of an infinitely more powerful order of energy called the Implicate order. It is the precursor of the Explicate, the dream-like vision or the ideal presentation of that which is to become manifest as a physical object. The Implicate order implies within it all physical universes. However, it resonates from an energy field which is yet greater, the realm of pure potential. It is pure potential because nothing is implied within it; implications form in the implicate order and then express themselves in the explicate order. Bohm goes on to postulate a final state of infinity [zero point] energy which he calls the realm of insight intelligence. The creative process springs from this realm. Energy is generated there, gathers its pure potential, and implies within its eventual expression as the explicate order." Will Keepin, Noetic Science Journal

"It is proposed that the widespread and pervasive distinctions between people (race, nation, family, profession, etc., etc.) which are now preventing mankind from working together for the common good, and indeed, even for survival, have one of the key factors of their origin in a kind of thought that treats things as inherently divided, disconnected, and "broken up" into yet smaller constituent parts. Each part is considered to be essentially independent and self-existent." - David Bohm, Wholeness and the Implicate Order


Also recommended for Christians who want to compare and understand the words of St. John of the Cross in the light of union of the Spirit, to love the creator more as the created.

Man created in the image of God, to mirror his light.

Pure Spiritual Beauty
This is by far the best book on my favorite spiritual poet. The poetry ofRumi is truly awe inspiring and the examination of his teachings by William C. Chittick is first rate. I can't even begin to guess the amount of time I've walked around with this book in my hand.You will want to read this over and over.It's a true spiritual classic and contains some translations of Rumi's poetry you wont find elsewhere.

A very well written translation
Apart from Nicholsons translation of the Mathnawi and the works of his students Iqbal (Life and works) and Arberry (who transltated the Fihi Ma Fihi as the 'Discorses of Rumi) All other so called 'translations' are pretty much worthless because 1. They are not translations at all but rather re-writes of Nicholson 2. They are just pandering to an ever growing market of supermarket spirituality.Chitticks translation however, is very different.

For a start, Chittick is a scholar in Persian and taught in Iran for several years and had first hand knowledge of not only the Persian Mathnawi but some of the major comentaries in Persian (which may explain why a previous reviewer found many parts of the book similar to Shia text he had read)

Chittick may be covering the same ground as Nicholson here but his translation is well put together not only applying modern English but also a knowledge of the original.

The book may not be of much use to everyone especially if you have already the Nicholson translation but if you are seeking a book that covers the fundamentals of the teachings of Rumi then there is no better place to start than this book.

Eastern Clarifier, Sufism not "dead" and not "phenomena"
The reviewer below shows typical Western arrogance and ignorance. He/she obviously knows nothing about sufism and the political role it's played throughout history. It's always come in as a political tool to fight extremism as it is (slowly) doing today. I wish people who didn't know anything about a tradition that is not their own would refrain from speaking from a position of supposed knowledge. It's the problem with Western political arrogance and what causes bloodshed, both literal and metaphorical. And sufi poetry is not "romantic"; that is simply the interpretation of unrealized minds. Please learn about the things of which you speaking. Otherwise, silence is still a virtue. Om Shanti.

Rumi, a great master
This is a good book on explaining some of the poems of the great mystic Rumi. I somewhat disagree with the authors choice of title.many great sufis refrained calling themselves sufi, after the movement becamepopularized and took a different color. Sufi orders sprung up like mushroomand every group claimed to follow a great mystic figure, like Rumi. oneoften wonders if Rumi and his like would have approved of notions like"Sufi order" which seems like "feudaliztion" of themovement.Many great mystics avoided " orderization" of theirpath. Their "order" was simply Islam and the path to realizationwas sharia itself. To many, becoming a sufi is nothing more than repeatingcertain names of God about a zillion times and whirling around till onegets dizzy or as one of my modern day sufi friend puts it " onebecomes natural high". And that dizziness or " natural high"is interpreted as " self disclosure" of God.It doesn't takemuch to " unveil" God, does it? ... Read more

Product Description
A selection of excerpts from Sufi masters clarifying the philosophy of Sufism.Amazon.com Review
"Dominion of the earth from end to end is worth less than adrip of blood upon the earth." Sufism is the mystical branch of Islamthat teaches love, humility, poverty, pragmatism and wisdom. In histimeless introduction, Idries Shah presents selections of lyric poems,fantastic tales, humorous anecdotes, and insightful maxims straightfrom the writings of revered Sufi masters. Originally a reactionagainst the increasing worldliness of Islam, Sufi wisdom still hitshome in a modern world obsessed with pleasure and material wealth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

A nice gateway to Sufism
If you've studied Western and Eastern philosophies fairly extensively and believe that you've pretty much covered all of the bases, think again.While Sufism certainly shares many key elements with other traditions, it still has a feel all its own, so a tour of Sufism is mandatory for those who are compelled to be spiritual seekers.

This book provides just such a tour, and it does it very well, drawing on many sources spanning the centuries, along with providing useful overviews and commentaries by Idries Shah to help us get our bearings.In the end, we're presented not with a specific doctrine or practices, but rather with a diverse bag of rhetorical devices which nudge us from many angles towards a general attitude and orientation which foster spiritual growth.

I recommend this book to open-minded spiritual seekers, particularly those who aren't averse to mysticism.

No exposition of higher truth - 90% external
Please see my reviews of "The Commanding Self" and "Learning How to Learn" for an explanation of the kind of game Shah is playing with readers.

The parables in this book do reflect higher knowledge, but do so in a way that doesn't teach anything new, but merely confirms what is already old. In other words, if you have experienced higher knowledge you will recognize it in some of these parables, but no one can himself actually learn much of anything from them. You might get an idea of what higher knowledge looks like from the outside, at most.

So what, then, is the purpose of this book? Was it written for seekers to learn from?

I give this 1-star because, while the Sufis quoted in the work are transmitting something of value, it is set in the context of Shah's larger duplicitous career which devalues the work and makes it nonsensical. The parables are framed in a way that prevents knowledge - so they are effectively worthless except to those who already have it.

Read Shah as a case study in 20th century spiritual charlatanism, and be aware that he will drop crumbs of knowledge at times, in other words he's not completely in error.

Great Book
Best book I ever read. There isn't a more helpful person on Earth, in my opinion.

Good travel book
I read this book while traveling Europe alone and it anchored me during that time.For whatever reason, being out of my ordinary environment and with a lot of alone time made much of it sink in.The Way of the Sufi samples wisdom from several periods of Sufi history.Perhaps not unexpectedly I found the writings of some of the sages resonated more with me than others.Not one to usually like rereading books, I found myself thumbing back to the same stories and rereading them again later, plucking different layers of meaning off with each new immersion.Many of the stories read like fables.All are succint and provide ample fodder for reflection and thought.

I love this book.I have ordered copy after copy but they keep dissapearing into the hands of my friends and fellow travelers...

A basic introductory course in Sufi study
The Way Of The Sufi is an anthology of material from Sufi Schools, teachings, and classical writings, intended as a basic introductory course in Sufi study. Author Idries Shah, well-known for expounding upon Sufi ideas and his work to make Sufi teachings accessible to a Western audience, presents contemporary readers with both outward aspects of Sufi thought and evidence that Sufi principles were absorbed into medieval Christianity, Hinduism, Jewish mysticism, and modern philosophical teachings. A very welcome and timely contribution to Religious Studies collections and reading lists, Idries Shah's The Way Of The Sufi not only focuses upon what Sufi is, but also the role Sufi activity and practice has to play in the modern the world.
... Read more

Product Description
The long-awaited work on the principles of Sufism and self-transformation by the beloved Sufi master Pir Vilayat.

For readers encountering Sufism for the first time, Awakening is the perfect companion and introduction to the way of the dervishes--as well as a doorway to a direct experience of the Divine.

"This book, drawing on the wisdom of an 83-year-old Sufi master, defines awakening and offers a clear map for the journey." --Personal Transformation magazineAmazon.com Review
The retreat looms large in the spiritual universe of Sufimaster Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan. Away from mundane concerns, theretreatant takes steps to see through the eyes of God, or in InayatKhan's words, "to think like the Universe." Inayat Khan's synthesis ofIndian and Islamic mysticism creates an attractive and palatablespiritual program, couched in the modern language of the newspirituality--Jungian archetypes, Cosmic Christ, spectrum ofconsciousness, Being of light. Through human beings, Inayat Khan says,the universe itself is alive, and as human beings, we can participateactively in the evolution of the universe. Awakening is ahandbook for revisioning God as the universe and transforming our ownconsciousness. Collected from transcripts of his retreat talks,Awakening guides the reader beyond the self through meditativepractices, visualization, whirling, and dhikr, the traditional Sufiritual of remembrance for inviting the Divine Presence into theheart. At the same time, Pir Vilayat insists that we be awakenedin life by loosening the ties of conditioning, challengingdeep-seated assumptions, and living a life of simplicity andservice. Although its roots are in age-old traditions,Awakening is at the cutting edge of mysticism. --BrianBruya ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Lovely read
This book is definitely a good read. i was very pleased with my purchasing it. However i gave it four stars because I felt that he was with holding some information and only giving you the basic idea of whats involved with becoming an awakened sufi master. although you cant expect a book to reveal esoteric information, he could have given a better idea of things and revealed a little more detailed processes of becoming awakened. but once your on the path, a book isnt necessarily going to speed the process up. its innate action. once your on the path its all your subconscious that tells you what needs to be done, a book is only the persons journey and cant be fully incorporated into every ones lives in the same way..

Awakening Review
Although I have yet to actually finish this book, I love what I have read so far. It offers readers an insight into the philosophy behind the Awakening of our Divine Selves through the Sufi beliefs (a branch from Muslim tradition). The book wonderfully explains theories of our Universal existance, which offers readers the chance to obtain a larger perspective on Life itself; the insignificant day-to-day worries seem less intimidating and overall a greater appreciation for our higher purpose in life presents itself to those following along. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in expanding their spiritual scope and learn to view the world from an entirely new perspective.

Enjoyed this Book
Enjoyed this book.Easy reading, good ideas for meditation, and living a spiritual lifestyle.

Great Read No Matter Whether Religious or Not
I liked this book because it didn't stress ideology, it was just a very positive and enlightening book.No matter one's religion, or even if one is religious, I think most people would get something out of this book (and I've read lots of religious texts as I took university-level classes when in school).

Great service... Thank you Amazon!
Thanks to Amazon, this book was on my desk in no time. Amazon, you've done it again... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Excellent exposition of leading Sufi Philosopher
Ibn Al-Arabi, known affectionately as 'The Master' by many Muslims, is one of the leading mystics and philosophers the world of Islam has ever produced.

Ibn Arabi was an enigmatic, many-faceted genius.A visionary poet, philosopher, mystic, theologian, and great writer in one, he combined a great and penetrating intellect with a profound mystical insight into the mysteries of the Islamic faith.

Unfortunately as with many key Islamic philosophers, good English translations of this thinker's works were unavailable for Western scholarship until fairly recently. Chittick, an expert on Persian literature (and who lived in Iran until the revolution) translates many sections of Arabi's key texts and expounds his vision of God, the universe, and man.

Ibn Arabi's work is immense in scope and range.Essentially his philosophy is an attempt to work out how the divine One, changless, eternal, and perfect, relates metaphysically to the created universe.Essentially Arabi takes up the classic philosophical problem of the One and the Many, and offers a grand solution based on Islamic theology, mysticism, and philosophy.

Central to Arabi's system of Being is the idea of God having 99 names.In the Quran, God is said to have 99 'most beautiful names' which are his attributes.In Sufi thought, these attributes are also reflected in the universe and in all creatures, though only in human beings (the most complete of God's creations) are all the 99 names encompassed.

Also important in Ibn Arabi's thought is the human quest to find God.Using the hadith 'I was a hidden treasure, so I made the universe to be known', Arabi constructs an elaborate mysticism of love, based on the search for the human lover for his hidden beloved, which is God.Translated from poetic and mythical terms to philosophical terms, the meaning of human existence is to find God, the Absolute who underlies all, who is present in all but also entirely incomprehensible and hidden.Ibn Arabi's metaphysics also includes a comprehensive system of theophanies, manifestations of the hidden One in the universe (which include the cosmos itself as the highest theophany, along with man).

The other main aspect of Arabi's system is the detailed study of man, the microcosm.Because man is the perfect mirror of God (in the sense all 99 names are in man) the best path to understand God is to know the Self.In Arabi's system there is the realm of ordinary conciousness and the realms of the imagination, and of mystical conciousness, which are treated as being as ontologically 'real' as our experienced, sense world is.

While Chittick sometimes offers some odd conclusions, his explanation of Arabi's key ideas and his translations of his texts are very good.Unfortunately they only tend to whet the appetite, and they only represent a small fraction of Arabi's complete works, the majority of which is as yet untranslated into English.

textbook style guide with detail and clarity
One of the difficulties with having such a unified, unique and untouchably elevated God is in reconiciling Him with the nitty-gritty intimacy of life and creation.

Allah is way up there...yet He still dictates stuff way down here.

Allah is so transcendent..yet religious experience demands an intimate spiritual connection.

How do these things happen?


well you see, it's quite simple really :)

It's mostly to do with this concept called 'barzakh' - loosely translated as 'phased intermediation' such that the cosmological make-up of the world consists of several layers, each of which denotes an element of the divine attribute made manifest. This whole system culminates in describing the universe as a "Theatre of Manifestation" of God's attributes (illustrated through the 99 names of Allah). This means that the divine essence permeates through every atomistic fibre of matter in every infinitessimal stitch of time.

Similarly, the consciousness of man is a barzakh - bridging the gap between the terrestial base form of clay and the ultimate climax of spiritual experience, 'fana' - a cosmic consciousness of unity with the Divine.

This book, with neat chapters, concepts and illustrations explains each of the steps of the divine governance of the universe and the methods of Godly consciousness as espoused by the great master of Shaykhs - Ibn Al Arabi. The first few chapters very lucidly run through the groundwork of the concept of the 'divine names' and some basic ontological and metaphysical concepts. This sets the field for a stunning climax where Professor Chttick weaves together the epistemic nature of prayer and spiritual discipline - so that the consciousness of Man mirrors and chimes in a unified beat with the inner harmonies of the universe. Everything is ONE....Everything resides in the ONE.

I have to admit, things get a little spooky and hazy towards the end and I struggled to form a coherent sense of what the whole things was about - in total....but maybe that's something you can't learn from a book.

To cut things short, this is a stunningly awesome book. A little hard going and tedious to begin with but definitely well worth the effort.

The Best Work on Ibn Arabi's Non-Dualistic Cosmology to Date
Ibn Arabi is not easy reading. By far the best and most comprehensive book to date is this one -- perhaps Chittick's most important work yet. SPK is primarily a collection of translations from various sections of Ibn Arabi's greatest work, the Meccan Revelations, and is structured more as an anthology. Chittick puts in his own commentary here and there which helps decode the complexity of some of the passages. But for the most part, he allows Ibn Arabi to speak for himself.

Although the book is long, you don't have to read all of it. Chittick is not arguing a thesis, but presenting Ibn Arabi's view on a variety of subjects which are fundamentally rooted in a non-dualistic cosmology where only Allah 'is'. You can read just the introduction of the work (where Chittick gives a bare-bones sketch of the Shaikh's worldview) and then start plugging away from the various passages at your own convenience.

In my opinion, SPK is better than Chittick's more recent THE SELF DISCLOSURE OF GOD which is too technical and requires quite a bit of familiarity with Ibn Arabi in particular and sufism in general.

An expository not a deconstructive work
Chittick allows Ibn Arabi to speak for himself without attemptiong to fit him within a philosophical paradigm like other authors (Nicholson, Affifi). This itself is a landmark step in oriental studies.

A wonderful book to read
This is a great book for any one who is interested in true no nonsense spiritualism.Ibne Arabi as always proves himself a true master of this path.I would like to mention a couple of points which has left meconfused as to the real position ofthis great master. He puts a greatdeal of emphasis on the fact that a true "traveler" is always mindful ofthe " Sacred Laws" of Islam and never for a moment undermines them.Onemight ask the question as to what is "Sacred Laws" and what are the sourcesof them.Quran rarely mentions anything about the Laws in a detailedfashion and those hadiths left from Prophet are uncertain , and moreimportantly there has never been much agreement about what the Sacred Lawsare among the jurisprudence. Four canonical schools among the jurisprudencewere established , at the expense of other schools, due to the fact thatthere was almost a chaos due to many schools of Law each with their ownversion of "Sacred Laws".So it seems that "Sacred Law" is more or less inthe eye of the beholder and very much " relative".Moreover it is veryconfusing that Ibne Arabi should accept the very notion of " fourcannonical" schools of law randomly picked by the ruler of the time.Anindication that Ibne Arabi perhaps avoided any topic which would havebrought him face to face with the political powers of his time.The secondconfusing aspect of Ibne Arabi is his almost total silence in regards tosocio-political aspect of Islam and Islamic society.He never touches uponthe early history of Islam and the shortcoming of the "Companions" of theProphet as though he either sees no problem with that history at all or heis afraid of a backlash.It is unlikely that a man like Ibne Arabi wouldgive a blank check and a money back guaranty entry to heaven to Mohammad'scompanions irrespective of their socio-political behavior.Why is it soimportant that we put the companions of the prophet under a microscope? Itis because their behavior is particularly relevant to all moslems sinceaccording to a hadith attributed to Muhammad " my companion are like stars,any which one one follows is lead to truth".Does Ibne Arabi accept thishadith?How does he , or better yet Prophet Muhammad himself, justify theturmoil and killings and political injustice which was exercised bycompanions after Mohammed's death?Moslems rarely touch upon this aspectof their history and almost never discuss it and Ibne Arabi, unfortunatly,seems to fall under the same category. ... Read more

Product Description
Here is a tale set on the Path of the Heart, a beautifully written mystical adventure wherein a modern-day Sufi Master sends seven companions on a perilous quest for the greatest treasure of the ancient world - King Solomon's ring. The legendary seal ring is said to control the Jinn, those terrifying demons of living fire, and in seeking it the companions discover not only the truth of the Jinn, but also the path of Love and the infinite mercy of God. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Three Mysticisms, One God
First: Visuals.I am reminded of what a teacher of mine, Niyi Osundare, Yorubic Nigerian poet, told me his father once remarked:"We eat with our eyes before we put the food in our mouths."How very true. Your visual beauty of the cover and the textual pen and ink drawings call at once to the spirit to partake.

Second: Phraseology. It reads like the best of your Tradition as I have experienced it. Khayyaam, and of course Arabian Nights come to mind. But of course it is graced with poetic and philosophic quotes which are so rich and poignant in themselves, that one wishes to linger there. Magically, or miraculously, or just bc. your own spirit is enflamed, they completely connect with the story somehow. Then neither detract nor inflate.They enhance and permeate as an apertif a meal. Or an essential oil the incense.

Third: Religious thought.I agree with the following assessments by your reviewers: It "challenges readers to read between the lines"Mohuuddin.It is "didactic without being preachy" Burris. I like the synopsis explique: "self realization woven delicately throuh the intricate strands of relgion".

Fourth:Relevance. I noticed that most reviewers were Arabic, some Christian. I didnot notice any Jewish names, [I have noticed rabbis now on your page since this writing!]. Perhaps they sensed a slur, perhaps, more likely, the two traditions which would most likely align with this through mystical application--the Hassids and the Orthodox. Though warm and exhuberant in centroplex, the Hassids are very self -enclosed in my experience. Orthodox would I imagine consider themselves defiled.This is not just a Jewish idiom.

I met a wonderful gentleman in a N.O. rainstorm here, wandering with only an umbrella to protect himself and his wife from a pre-Katrina cataclysmic thunderstorm brewing such as he more than likely had no anticipation of the magnitude. I had been to Mass. I had a miraculous photo of the crucified Face of Christ. In course of our conversation, in which I warned him to take shelter, I gave him a copy of this photo. He was from "Persia" as he said --Iran. It was at a politically loaded time. We were two (three) wandering souls in the desert of this Earth, destined by Allah's Divine mercy to meet. He called me, asked to meet and discuss what this photo meant and the Passion of Christ.

We met in the library several times and discussed mutual beliefs and religious concepts. He kept the photo, but could accept no Bible or rosary--against his faith. He wanted to give me a copy of the Koran and prayer beads--which I would have willingly accepted, but unfortunately he left before we could reconnect. It was my anguish to see the bombs heading towards his people, the sacred caves, the holy land graced by many mystics' feet and watered by tears and blood. I prayed often that the photo would not put him in peril in Iran. I prayed with tears that none of his family would suffer from an unholy war of terror or counter-terror.. I prayed that my people (U.S. or Israel) would not take innocent lives in retribution.

One interesting thing he said to me (this marks the Universality of Spiritas the quote from Khalil Gibran states).I had shown him a pamphlet of Sister (now canonized Saint)Faustina of Poland--the Mercy of God. It had a photo of her.Before we parted, he admonished me (He always asked me in preface, "Are you holy?" and I would reply, "Me? No, I am a poor sinner!")"If you go there, every day, every day, every day (he pointed to the Catholic Church across from which we had met) you will be like her (pointing to Faustina). [i.e. "you will be 'saint'.] I kissed the ground of my religious soil that the All Holy had sent this man across the Seas to tell me such.

So, Master Karchmar: A poor sinner ofJewish-descent (Levi house) and a Catholic Carmelite tertiary finds your fanciful Master of the Jinn exquisite, traditional, vivacious, fantastic, and a prayer of incense to the Unspeakable Name. No defilement of my religious thought, but rather a beautiful and wondrous confirmation of all I hold sacred in the mystical tradition of my teachers: St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa d'Avila and St. Therese de Lisieux. It is an Ode to Divine Love and its Living Flame. It is charmingly told as a Rings Fairy Tale. No doubt my beloved Tolkien stole his Promoethean fire from your Traditions!The rascal. It has its message as Lord of the Rings had its message. Both come from the Great Wisdom and the Divine Heart of Radiant Love.

It took a Sufi to give me something for which I sought--the interconnections of 3 Mysticisms. I could not get this from the Kabal bc. I have had no training in Judaism (from my maternal grandfather) having been raised Catholic. I find it part of the Divine comedy that He sees fit to transfer a dose of that wondersome mythology and a good shot of faith-elixir from Arabic eloquence. I am eternally grateful.

Shalom, Pax Christi,
Mignon M.Fahr T.O.Carm.
(M.M.Fahren)

Heart-Pounding Adventure with a Spritual Chaser
This was a wonderful book that I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did. I'm not a religious person and know next to nothing about the Sufi religion. This book stands alone as a wonderful adventure story in the same vein as "Lord of the Rings." The characters are real and unforgettable and the book is hard to put down. I really enjoyed it and came away with a greater understanding of the author's spiritual path. One of my surprise favorite reads of 2009.

An Inward Journey!!
This book will capture young hearts and take them on a spiritual journey. Throughout the book one gets the feeling of reflecting into one's inner self. Would love to see this book transported to Hollywood....what a spectacular movie it would make!! My sincere prayers and wishes for success to Irving Karchmar!

Pleasantly digestible way to take in some heavy duty stuff!
I really enjoyed this book. It is the first time I read a sufi novel and it is a great counter point to all the very scholarly and/or very mystical books on the subject that aren't always easy to integrate. I recommend this book for anyone who has in interest in sufism.

Deeply profound
As I was contemplating a draw to the Sufi Way, my friend and brother, Irving Karchmar's Master of the Jinn presented myself.It's rich intertwining of Sufi and Jewish sources touched my soul.With a wonderful twist, it grabbed me and nourished me.

While I belong to a different Order of Sufis, this book helped awaken the courage to answer the call and be who I really am.It is about ONENESS in the Supreme Reality, many call God, alhamdulillah! ... Read more

Product Description
For the Sufis, the healing of the sick is considered tobe the most important of all services to humanity. For the first timein the West, the author presents thesecret principles and practices of this divine science, based on the800-year tradition of the Chishti Order. Among the many topics coveredare dietary recommendations of the Prophet, the preparation of herbalformulas, healing with essential oils, illnesses arising at variousstages of the soul's evolution, fasting and prayer, talismans, and the"infallible remedy." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Sufi Healing
A great window from a good insider into Sufism and its outlook on human health being a state of body, mind and soul on a quest for unity with the Divine.A perspective with time tested advice good for all times.

A wonderful presentation of Sufi healing traditions as well as Islam's contributions to world civilization
A wonderful presentation of Sufi healing traditions as well as Islam's contributions to world civilization

The author, Shaykh Hakim Moinuddin Chisti (Dr. Hakim Chishti) is a naturopathic physician and one of the few practitioners of Unani al-tibb in North America as well as a Fulbright Research Scholar.While conducting research in Afghanistan, he studied Unani medicine under the tutelage of a traditional practitioner, and has since participated in numerous international health symposia in Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan.Working from original material, he has translated into English the standard textbook of Avicenna on Unani medicine, Mizan-ul-Tibb ("The Canon of Medicine"). He is the author of "The Traditional Healer's Handbook" (Healing Arts Press, 1991), based on the foregoing translation.

For the Sufis within the mystic branches of Islam, the healing of the sick is considered to be the most important of all services to humanity. For the first time in the West, the author presents the secret principles and practices of this divine science, based on the 800-year tradition of the Chishti Order, to which the author belongs.The Chishti Order is a Sufi order which was founded in Chisht, a small town near Herat, in Western Afghanistan about 930 C.E. and continues to this day. The Chishti Order is known for its emphasis on love, tolerance, and openness, and "service to humanity" in the form of healing is one of the nine principles of the order first enunciated by Abu Ishaq Shami ("the Syrian"), its revered founder.

Among the many topics covered in "The Book of Sufi Healing" are dietary recommendations of the Prophet, the preparation of herbal formulas, healing with essential oils, the characteristics of illnesses arising at various stages of the soul's evolution, the therapeutic applications of fasting, prayer and correct breathing, the manufacture and use of talismans to maintain, restore and promote good health and the "infallible remedy."

Dr. Chishti has produced a truly wonderful, uplifting work, a veritable pharmacopoeia of Quranic verses (among other therapeutic modalities) relating to specific ailments affectingour spiritual and physical beings as well as a number ofvaluable chapters containing practical guidance for detoxification measures, diagnosis, the use of the Divine Names in the treatment of possession, and the use of spiritual geometric designs ("Taweez," akin in form and purpose to the Indian "Yantra") that have traditionally been used for healing. In addition to its detailed, very clear treatment of the Sufi healing tradition, Dr. Chishti's work is an excellent general introduction to the subject of Sufism for any serious student.

"The Book of Sufi Healing" is a work that should be read by anyone who wishes to acquire an in-depth knowledge of Sufism's and Islam's traditional healing practices as well as Sufism and its place in Islam more generally.

Refreshing, as the breath
The science of heart and breathing is just breath taking.Wonderful book for individuals with desire to learn and an open mind on Sufism and Islam. The Sufism is truly religion of the heart, winged heart.Beleiving is being, breath is everything.

Eye-opening
I wrote, years ago, that "some of his recommendations would be considered to be controversial within Islam."
I now think that I was writing from a position of ignorance.It's amazing how a lifetime of conditioning can prevent you from seeing things in an unbiased fashion.
2-3 years on, I'd like to offer my apologies - and many thanks!

Eye-opening
I wrote, years ago, that "some of his recommendations would be considered to be controversial within Islam."
I now think that I was writing from a position of ignorance.It's amazing how a lifetime of conditioning can prevent you from seeing things in an unbiased fashion.
2-3 years on, I'd like to offer my apologies - and many thanks! ... Read more

Product Description
'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 the book. According to the Journal of Near Eastern Studies, it is 'one of the most thorough and intimately engaging books on Sufism to be produced by a Western scholar'. Certainly there is nothing second-hand about it. The author lets Sufis speak for themselves and, in a series of unusual and absorbing texts mainly translated from Arabic, he gives a vivid picture of life in a North African Sufi order. Against this background stands the unforgettable figure of the Algerian Shaikh who was head of the order from 1909 until his death in 1934. The last few chapters are mainly devoted to his writings, which include some penetrating aphorisms, and which end with a small anthology of his remarkable mystic poems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A book about a Sage by a Sage.
A very clear and intimate introduction to a saintly personality, Martin Lings' A Sufi Saint of the Twentieth Century is an important work on Islamic mysticism. It recounts in clear fashion the life of a twentieth century Sufi Saint, Shaykh Ahmad al-`Alawi. In this book, Martin Lings made a figure, relatively unknown to scholarship outside the Islamic world, better known. More importantly however, as the author himself remarks, the purpose of the book "goes far beyond academic orientalism"(p. 9) so as to allow a general audience access to its subject matter and therefore can be read without any sort of background in Islam. As the author puts it, only one quality is presupposed in the reader, namely, "a sincere interest in the `things of the Spirit'" (p. 9).

The book intends to provide insight to the reader about the `character' and life of the Shaykh al-`Alawi, through both people who knew him as well as through the corpus of writings that he left behind him. The structure of the book is divided into three parts, each part not only telling of aspects of the Shaykh's life, but also shedding light on the deeper reality of those aspects that he lived and breathed. Thus the author begins the first part with a section entitled a `seen from the outside', which speaks of how the Shaykh was seen by people outside his `circle', particularly by his French physician Dr Marcel Carret. Lings then moves to a sectioned entitled `seen from within', wherein the Shaykh is viewed from within his circle, which includes his disciples as well as himself. What is interesting here is the movement made by the author from the outer to the inner, which is itself symbolic of the journey of the inner way that the Shaykh, as is made clear, very much lived. Part two expounds in brief fashion what the Lings calls "the Doctrine", of both the inner way in general and the Shaykh in particular through quotations and excerpts from his writings. Mention is made of the doctrine of `wahdat al-wujud' (Oneness of Being), which holds a most central place in the mystical tradition of Islam but also of all other orthodox mystical traditions. Alongside the doctrine of the `Oneness of Being', other aspects of the Shaykh's doctrine are mentioned such as, `The Three Worlds' the `hierarchies of Being', the `Great Peace' (the attainment of which is the goal of the inner way), in which important themes such as prophethood vs. sainthood are discussed. Regarding the latter, Lings says it was a problem which was solved once and for all by Ibn `Arabi when he wrote "The Messenger is more universal in virtue of his sainthood then he is in virtue of his apostle-prophethood" (p. 261). The third part then deals with some selections from the Shaykh's aphorisms and poetry, with important commentaries on the former by Lings himself, which provide valuable insight into his familiarity with the subject he is dealing.

The text, in addition to introducing the remarkable personality of the Shaykh al-`Alawi to the average person, sets out to correct certain misunderstandings of orientalist scholarship. Beginning with the second chapter entitled `The Origins of Sufism' certain problems arise that the author attempts to solve. Many works on Sufism, except for a number of noteworthy exceptions,that begin `from the outside'- precisely because they are from the `outside'- have failed to see the Islamic `origins' of Sufism, apparently because of the doctrines that the later generations of Muslims formed and developed. The answer to this problem lies in what a tenth century Sufi of Bukhara said, "Then (after the second generation of Islam) desire diminished and purpose flagged: and with this came the spate of questions and answers, books, and treatises" (p. 43). Moreover, as the author shows, most the Quranic verses and sayings of the Prophet, as well as the verses regarding all supererogatory rituals, prayers, and litanies - all of which occupy such a central place in Sufism - were among the earliest to be revealed, which is enough, for the author, to indicate that "a strong mystical element was present from the outset" (p. 40). The development that occurred did not introduce anything new nor change or modify the fundamentals of Sufism. Rather, it came about from, as Lings' puts it, the "inevitable movement from concentrated synthesis to differentiated analysis" (p. 43), which was an unavoidable movement that took place in varying disciplines and methods to address the "analogous change that was taking place in human souls" as they distanced from the Center (p. 43). Historically based as well as `qualitatively insightful' arguments are developed and adduced by the author to make this point.

Furthermore, the same must be said with the parts dealing with the doctrine of `wahdat al-wujud' and the path of gnosis being superior to, although embracing, the path of Love. For "it is Love within the general framework of Knowledge" (p. 46) as the author says. In this section a few words are also said by the author, mainly in his footnotes, about some of the misunderstandings of some orientalists about the `wahdat al-wujud' of the Sufis; dealing with its incorrect and often misleading translations - which themselves are the effect of an inaccurate understanding - of pantheism or `existentialist monism' and the like. Against the accusations of the Sufis as `falling into the pantheistic abyss' or even some of them as being `dualists'(p. 53) Martin Lings suggests that the point of view or better yet the `standpoint' of the Sufis should be considered; he says in his footnote, "The truth is that all the Sufis are `dualist' or `pluralist' at lower level; but it is impossible that any of them should have believed that at the highest level there is anything other than the Divine Oneness" (p. 126) and that explicit verses of the Quran like "Everything perisheth except His Face" (28:88) should be considered carefully. Unfortunately however, the general tendency has continued and misunderstanding still being entertained, namely, the accusation that scholars `from within' tend to read certain things, specifically certain doctrines, from the later periods into the former ones. Such charges though completely fall to the ground if it is understood that the `formulations' in question, intrinsic and essential meaning was very clear from the outset of Islam; one only has to take a look at a Quranic verse like, "He is the First and the Last and the Outwardly Manifest and Inwardly Hidden" (57:3) to pause and reflect about if they really understood the situation. New knowledge, in the Islamic tradition, can never be introduced due to the fact that the Quran contains all knowledge in `principal'; the findings of the later Muslims were, in a sense, a way of making explicit what were implicit in the Quran all along.

In brief, throughout the book, from the whole structure of its style, to the content of the chapters, to the language used to convey the content in such exquisite a manner, the entire `approach' to the book beginning with the fine introduction and ending with the beautiful poetry of the Shaykh, Martin Lings' `lived' participation in the Tradition that the Shaykh himself was apart of, resonates through the entirety of this book. It serves as an excellent and well written introduction to the life and thought of a twentieth century Sufi Saint and conveys to the reader with a `sincere interest' that the quest for the timeless Truth can still be made today as it was made in the `good old days gone by', a quest that the author himself undertook in his own life. As a good man once said, `it is a book about a Sage by a Sage'.

Too much left unexplained...
Im not really a big fan of Lings dry style of writing,but i also see its benefits.Perhaps i am stil learning to appreciate it.He usually stays well away from the hyperbole you find in the sufism genre.But Hyperbole does help capture certain aspects of a personality that you always feel is missing here.
There is also a sense of understement in the emotional atmosphere ,if The Sheikh was as close to meeting jesus in the flesh as possible,i would properbly have feinted on the spot!

Certain other aspects of Sheikh Alawais life,such as his relationship to his so-called western murids,namely Guenon and Schuon are also left unchartered.
I was hoping for more here,especially considering Schuon became a complete weirdo later on.
Perhaps Lings wished to distance himself from those two,but anyway it left me wondering.
If u can read Arabic im sure you can get more valuable literature about The Sheikh,otherwise its worth having only if u alreayd have a peaked interest in the subject matter.
Otherwise there is much better sufi material out there.

Exellelent introduction to Sufism
A fine introduction to Sufism by Mr Martin Lings, one of the great writers on Islam and Sufism in recent years. The book is a biography of the Algerian Sheikh Ahmed al-Alawi the late grand Sheikh of the Alawiyye branch of the Shadhiliyye order one of the largets Sufi orders in Africa. The book begins with an introduction to Sufism for a doctor who has come to treat the Sheikh at his 'Zawiya' (Sufi meeting place)His impressions are unique in itself as a Frenchman and member of the colonialist class who in general looked upon the native Algerians and especially their religious leaders with contempt, although he does not enter the order he is left on reflection of his meeting with the Sheikh a profound feeling that he has truly been in the presence of a man of great spiritual light (describing him on first encounter as being similar to the traditional images of Christ)The book then gives a brief history of Sufism, the Alawiyye order and its founder Sheikh al-Alawi before chapter 2 goes on to explain the doctrine of the Sufi order. Chapter 3 is a translation of some of the Sheikhs works including his poetry.

For anyone who has read the works of Thomas Merton, His Holiness the Dalai Lama or has any interest in Islam or Sufism this book will certainly be welcome on their bookshelf, truly a book for those of a spiritual heart.

From a novice...
Though I don't know much about such things as whether this book is good in comparison to others, I can give my personal opinion. The first half of the book is more or less a biography, which is both entertaining and inspirational for anyone who likes to read about people and their lives...one interesting side note is that they compare his greatness to that of Ramana Maharshi. In any case...the second half of the book is absolutly amazing, and anyone who is new to the language the sufis use to explain universal truths will say "wow" more than once while reading this book...I would read a page or two and it would be interesting, and then I would suddenly read something that shifted me, made me give thanks and put the book down. This book is not for those who see themself as the judge..it is for those who are thankful for being gifted even the slightest desire to want to know and be with God. You will find something useful here. Peace.

not bad...
I give it the stars, only because it is the only English translation ofthe great Shaykh Al Alawi.The BIGGEST mistake of the book, and why oh whydid they get away with it was when the story goes how Al Alawi was giventhe tariq.pg 68 says that he received the tariq in a dream. This isincorrect, and if it wasn't for that I would have given this book morestars! All in all, it was a nice read, there is a photo of him Rahimullah,Is it really him though?? Although it is a biography, at the end there aresome of his wonderful poetry, and Mystical sayings to his murid's! That wasthe highlight of the book, oh and some nice brush ups on Islamic history ofthat time in the Maghrib area! ... Read more

Product Description
For those who have reached a level of understanding of the illusory nature of the world around us and seek to discern the reality that lies behind it, Sufi meditation -muraqabah - is the doorwaye through which we can pass from this realm of delusion into the realm of realities.Through meditation the seeker has a means to return to his or her perfected original self. Muraqabah is the fastest and most direct method for advancing in spiritual degrees. It is in fact a migration from one's self to God.Through meditation higher states of consciousness are attained, and the connection to the seeker's true inner self is established, built-up and maintained, providing the practictioner with a lifeline to the Divine Presence. This book presents the spiritual background behind the practice of meditation, then takes the reader step-by-step, through the basics of spiritual connection based on the ancient teachings of the Naqshbandi Sufi masters of Central Asia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Not much more a book can do...
This book comes close to giving an overview of what it might be like to have a relationship with a real teacher but don't mistake the book for the teacher. Don't expect to get from a book what is needed and only available from a living teacher. Find a teacher if you want to achieve anything.

Sufi Meditation Guide-Not So Simple
I bought this book hoping that I would learn a way to meditate and connect spiritually to God, however, this is a guide to be used with a spiritual teacher and comes from the point of view of this particular offshoot of Sufism. Plus, the medtitation techniques and demands are somewhat strenuous, so I would say this is a book for more advanced practitioners, not a beginner like me.

One of Kind
Sufi Meditation and Muraqabah amazing insight into the Naqshbandi realities of attuning one self with a real Master of sufism. The fastest way to the Truth is to polish oneself and allow the reflection of the perfected Masters to reflect that Truth Thru ourselves and our lives
-Eternally
AK

Good intentions but falls short on content
An amateur attempt at Sufi meditation and healing.

Although the subject is wide, deep and subtle the author is able to only provide cursory guidelines with only a few good sections. Rest is mostly a hodgepodge of different ideas or understandings the author was able to acquire.

Probably his teachers have more to say on the subject.

That is the ultimate Spiritual Path, (Forget the Healing aside)
This small book does by far shatter its cover title,

It appears smaller than it's REAL SIZE.

You thought you would be reading a traditional healing subject...hold...

The material here contains a rare World-Class Spiritual Gem, the touch of a saint, a connection to the teaching source...

The book's pace is fast, brief, and inclusive, no word is extra, the book's peak is the Gem which I would leave to the readers to discover and try for themselves....then it calms down to open up a new space of human energy science...but frankly...that is only the trail of the blaze that has given the book it's published title.

With all due respect and love for this great master.

I hereby cannot express further more.



... Read more

Product Description
Here is a tale set on the Path of the Heart, a beautifully written mystical adventure wherein a modern-day Sufi Master sends seven companions on a perilous quest for the greatest treasure of the ancient world - King Solomon's ring. The legendary seal ring is said to control the Jinn, those terrifying demons of living fire, and in seeking it the companions discover not only the truth of the Jinn, but also the path of Love and the infinite mercy of God. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Three Mysticisms, One God
First: Visuals.I am reminded of what a teacher of mine, Niyi Osundare, Yorubic Nigerian poet, told me his father once remarked:"We eat with our eyes before we put the food in our mouths."How very true. Your visual beauty of the cover and the textual pen and ink drawings call at once to the spirit to partake.

Second: Phraseology. It reads like the best of your Tradition as I have experienced it. Khayyaam, and of course Arabian Nights come to mind. But of course it is graced with poetic and philosophic quotes which are so rich and poignant in themselves, that one wishes to linger there. Magically, or miraculously, or just bc. your own spirit is enflamed, they completely connect with the story somehow. Then neither detract nor inflate.They enhance and permeate as an apertif a meal. Or an essential oil the incense.

Third: Religious thought.I agree with the following assessments by your reviewers: It "challenges readers to read between the lines"Mohuuddin.It is "didactic without being preachy" Burris. I like the synopsis explique: "self realization woven delicately throuh the intricate strands of relgion".

Fourth:Relevance. I noticed that most reviewers were Arabic, some Christian. I didnot notice any Jewish names, [I have noticed rabbis now on your page since this writing!]. Perhaps they sensed a slur, perhaps, more likely, the two traditions which would most likely align with this through mystical application--the Hassids and the Orthodox. Though warm and exhuberant in centroplex, the Hassids are very self -enclosed in my experience. Orthodox would I imagine consider themselves defiled.This is not just a Jewish idiom.

I met a wonderful gentleman in a N.O. rainstorm here, wandering with only an umbrella to protect himself and his wife from a pre-Katrina cataclysmic thunderstorm brewing such as he more than likely had no anticipation of the magnitude. I had been to Mass. I had a miraculous photo of the crucified Face of Christ. In course of our conversation, in which I warned him to take shelter, I gave him a copy of this photo. He was from "Persia" as he said --Iran. It was at a politically loaded time. We were two (three) wandering souls in the desert of this Earth, destined by Allah's Divine mercy to meet. He called me, asked to meet and discuss what this photo meant and the Passion of Christ.

We met in the library several times and discussed mutual beliefs and religious concepts. He kept the photo, but could accept no Bible or rosary--against his faith. He wanted to give me a copy of the Koran and prayer beads--which I would have willingly accepted, but unfortunately he left before we could reconnect. It was my anguish to see the bombs heading towards his people, the sacred caves, the holy land graced by many mystics' feet and watered by tears and blood. I prayed often that the photo would not put him in peril in Iran. I prayed with tears that none of his family would suffer from an unholy war of terror or counter-terror.. I prayed that my people (U.S. or Israel) would not take innocent lives in retribution.

One interesting thing he said to me (this marks the Universality of Spiritas the quote from Khalil Gibran states).I had shown him a pamphlet of Sister (now canonized Saint)Faustina of Poland--the Mercy of God. It had a photo of her.Before we parted, he admonished me (He always asked me in preface, "Are you holy?" and I would reply, "Me? No, I am a poor sinner!")"If you go there, every day, every day, every day (he pointed to the Catholic Church across from which we had met) you will be like her (pointing to Faustina). [i.e. "you will be 'saint'.] I kissed the ground of my religious soil that the All Holy had sent this man across the Seas to tell me such.

So, Master Karchmar: A poor sinner ofJewish-descent (Levi house) and a Catholic Carmelite tertiary finds your fanciful Master of the Jinn exquisite, traditional, vivacious, fantastic, and a prayer of incense to the Unspeakable Name. No defilement of my religious thought, but rather a beautiful and wondrous confirmation of all I hold sacred in the mystical tradition of my teachers: St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa d'Avila and St. Therese de Lisieux. It is an Ode to Divine Love and its Living Flame. It is charmingly told as a Rings Fairy Tale. No doubt my beloved Tolkien stole his Promoethean fire from your Traditions!The rascal. It has its message as Lord of the Rings had its message. Both come from the Great Wisdom and the Divine Heart of Radiant Love.

It took a Sufi to give me something for which I sought--the interconnections of 3 Mysticisms. I could not get this from the Kabal bc. I have had no training in Judaism (from my maternal grandfather) having been raised Catholic. I find it part of the Divine comedy that He sees fit to transfer a dose of that wondersome mythology and a good shot of faith-elixir from Arabic eloquence. I am eternally grateful.

Shalom, Pax Christi,
Mignon M.Fahr T.O.Carm.
(M.M.Fahren)

Heart-Pounding Adventure with a Spritual Chaser
This was a wonderful book that I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did. I'm not a religious person and know next to nothing about the Sufi religion. This book stands alone as a wonderful adventure story in the same vein as "Lord of the Rings." The characters are real and unforgettable and the book is hard to put down. I really enjoyed it and came away with a greater understanding of the author's spiritual path. One of my surprise favorite reads of 2009.

An Inward Journey!!
This book will capture young hearts and take them on a spiritual journey. Throughout the book one gets the feeling of reflecting into one's inner self. Would love to see this book transported to Hollywood....what a spectacular movie it would make!! My sincere prayers and wishes for success to Irving Karchmar!

Pleasantly digestible way to take in some heavy duty stuff!
I really enjoyed this book. It is the first time I read a sufi novel and it is a great counter point to all the very scholarly and/or very mystical books on the subject that aren't always easy to integrate. I recommend this book for anyone who has in interest in sufism.

Deeply profound
As I was contemplating a draw to the Sufi Way, my friend and brother, Irving Karchmar's Master of the Jinn presented myself.It's rich intertwining of Sufi and Jewish sources touched my soul.With a wonderful twist, it grabbed me and nourished me.

While I belong to a different Order of Sufis, this book helped awaken the courage to answer the call and be who I really am.It is about ONENESS in the Supreme Reality, many call God, alhamdulillah! ... Read more

Product Description
Although Rumi has become one of America’s favorite poets, very little is known about the underlying metaphysical foundation which illuminates his language.With beautiful illustrations from the world of Persian Sufism, this authoritative introduction opens the door to Rumi’s spiritual universe and it highlights Rumi as a beacon of light whose teaching dispels the shadows which prevent modern man from seeing even his own image in its true form and knowing who he really is.Containing chapters on Sufism and Islam, The Nature of Man, and Operative Sufism, for readers who are already sensitive to the magic of Rumi’s poetry, this succinct book provides the necessaryinsight required to more fully understand the world of one of the greatest spiritual figures in the history of the world. ... Read more

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Illustrated Rumi
This is an outstanding overview of the philosophy of Rumi and Sufism generally. It shows how Rumi's views are consistent with other thinkers such as Ibn Arabi. It is excellent on Sufi concepts of Shahadah, the relation between Shariah and Tariqah, theodicy or the question of evil, the universal man and the fallen man, the union with God and the Nafs or ego-carnal self which prevents man from seeing his true nature. The pictures are beautiful and include illustrations from Rumi's life. Chittick was a student of Seyyed Hossein Nasr who writes the introduction. ... Read more

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This volume provides a detail explanation of the spiritual states and mystical stations experienced by the Sufi while journeying the path towards God. It provides descriptions of the inner realities and the subtler aspects of the Sufi path. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

great
If you are studying Tassawuf (Sufism), This book will help you understand the deeper aspects of symbology. Especially when reading poems, many will not make sense unless you can decode the symbolic use of different things. I reccomend all of Dr. Nurbakhsh's books, and especially the Nimatullahi Sufi Order! Ya Haqq!

Universal spiritual hierarchy of Divine Grace
Sufi Symbolism is an encyclopedia of 16 volumes, with all possible entries on the symbolism and mystical knowledge of the Sufi path. Each entry provides a great variety of quotations by the masters of the Path. Many of these quotations are translated for the first time in the English language.

While the entire series is primarily useful for in-depth references to the subjects discussed, this particular volume VI almost reads as a textbook. Moreover, the particular subject of this volume is very interesting.

"Titles and epithets" of the Sufi path are discussed, meaning the various categories of travelers, adherents to particular creeds, adepts, saints and prophets; in their various approaches, degrees and ranks. What appears is a whole spiritual hierarchy, forever subsisting in eternity, maintaining the spiritual order of humanity, and serving as conduits of divine grace to maintain the covenant of humanity with its Creator.

Just a few quotations:

"The Pole of the Universe (qotb) holds the balance that regulates the general flow of grace; he measures that flow according to his knowledge, which follows from his knowledge of God, which in turn arises from quiddities yet to be manifested. The outflow of the spirit of life, from most sublime to the basest existence, is in his hands. (...)" - Jorjani

"The rule of the "Universal Pole" (qotb) is constantly thus:
if one goes away, another must come."
- Shah Ni'matullah Wali

"The "substitutes" (abdal) revolve in the seven heavens of the "pole" (qotb),
and the "supports" (autad) are stationary in the four corners of the "recourse" (ghauth).
- Mozaffar `Ali Shah

This book is very worthwhile indeed to read if you are interested to have a comprehensive overview of these subjects. There is no other, comparable compendium, to my knowledge.

"Love is "devil-may-care" (la-obali), not reason;
reason only seeks that from which it may gain."
- Rumi

... Read more

Product Description
In his Alternative Healing: The Sufi Way, Shaykh Taner Ansari has provided Sufis and anyone else interested in spiritual healing with a book that is uplifting for both spirits and bodies. Readers will love the focus of the book, which is a veritable pharmacopoeia of Quranic verses related to specific ailmentsaffecting one's spiritual and physical being. In addition Shaykh Taner has included valuable chapters containing practical guidance for purification, diagnosis, the useof the Divine Names in healing, treatment of Jinn possession, and the use of spiritual geometric designs (taweez) that have traditionally been used for healing.Finally, recipes for soups and teas that Shaykh Taner adds in an appendix complete this book that is certainly a generous cup overflowing with God s Mercy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Wonderfulrecipes for healing

Along with the many remedies for a variety of ailments, the book includes some wonderful tea and soup recipes.Shaykh Taner's Chicken Rice Soup and an immunity booster soup "Pacha" are our family's favorites during times of cold/flu.There is a typographical error for the chicken rice soup:12 cups of water are needed.

It's a wonderful resource book full of useful knowledge!

This is the real thing
This book contains remedies that clearly come from a powerful traditional source.Our daughter was suffering from nightmares almost every night, and it was very distressing.The very FIRST night we used the remedy for nightmares given in this book, they stopped.She has been clear of them since then, with only one bad dream in months.The book is full of remedies that are straightforward and well-explained.It is far beyond your typical self-help book, and is definitely a manual stemming from a real lineage.Thank you to the author for making this knowledge accessible!

An Effective Spiritual Healing Resource
Alternative Healing - The Sufi Way - I found this book to be extremely effective in its content - specially if you are a Sufi and are inclined towards healing. The healing techniques are very traditional and centuries old that provide immediate relief if followed as recommended. A must have for everyone who would like to heal others, as it covers from special methods, diagnosis,of specific ailments like cancer including protection and security from the unseen world with the help of geometric diagrams (Taweez). I did put one geometric diagram to test and was amazed. The author primarily focusses on the spiritual aspects of the healing techniques in quite detail. The book has a lot of healing secrets in the form of techniques revealed which are quite fascinating when you try them. Lastly, the author Shaykh Taner's Chicken Rice Soup recipe in the appendix section was a real life saver during flu. Its a highly recommended reading and a good investment for long lasting spiritual well being for you and your family at a fraction of the price. Was worth an addition to my bookshelf. ... Read more

Product Description
The author combines his research into Sufi doctrine and history with a rich account of the spiritual and metaphysical significance of Sufism as a living tradition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A flawed masterpiece
I read this book a few years ago and was throughly amazed. Nasr exposition of Sufism is excellent. He plunges into history and literature to and brings out profound insight into some fo the aspects of Sufism. He essay on the Sufi Shaykh is wonderful. Nevertheless the book has its flaw. The insertation of perrenial thought and propagation of the Universalvalidity of Religions is dogmatic in certain essay. The author simply goes and concludes that Sufi thought stresses the Universal Validity of Religions. Such a statement if false and goes against the Islamic texts and there explanation. In essence the book is wonderful and contains beneficial knowledge, but at the end the perrenial taint leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. Overall good read but one should take caution about the above mentioned mistake.

A non-politicalbook on sufism
I truly enjoyed reading this book. Having read another excellent book by Corbin " Alone with the Alone", I was curious to see what relation is there, if any, between Shiism and Sufis, this book answered myquestions in an honest non-political way. ... Read more

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New to Penguin Classics-a transcendent selection of poetry from the early Islamic era.

Poetry has been the most powerful vehicle for conveying Sufism-the mystical dimension of Islam-from the early flowering of mystical Islam in Baghdad to the later heights it reached through Jalaluddin Rumi (d. 1273) and Jami (d. 1492). Starting with the writings of eighth-century mystics, this anthology moves through the twelfth century with Ibn Arabi in Spain and Ibn Farid of Cairo, then onto the Maghrib prayer of Abul Ala Al Maari, Aynul quddat Hamddhani of Persia, Yunus Emre of Turkey in the fourteenth century, and many others, culminating in the early twentieth century. The result is a soaring collection of verse from across the Islamic world and over centuries of inspiration.

... Read more

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Customer Reviews (7)

Love's Alchemy
While works by Rumi, Hafiz, and other such masters have been around for a good long time, many of us in the West are just now learning about this art. Extremely unique with a depth that touches the soul. These works really are timeless.

Love's Alchemy is a beautiful introduction to Sufi poetry. All of the works are translated from Persian. Then, for the benefit of westerners, the book includes some notes on the style of this tradition and a glossary. A nice collection whether you are new to Sufi poetry or are an avid collector.

Excellent collection of poetry
Very nice collection of short Sufi poetry. The verses are rich in colors and images and it is not difficult to picture those in your mind. Try it - it's a beautiful sight...

Discover New Sufi Poets
Another very good collection of Persian Sufi poetry. This book focuses on poems and poets that are not as well known in the West. A good place to discover some new names.

Beautiful!
This is a very excellent and smooth translation that captures the essence of the sufism and spirituality.

Lovers of literature and Sufi poetry have found another gem
The translators of Love's Alchemy put it best in the introduction:"...if this volume conveys anything, it is the message that Rumi is not alone."For lovers of the more widely known mystic Persian poets, this book will introduce them to the vast range of other masterful writers of that tradition.

The Fidelers have not only recreated the lines in poetically readable English, but they have also provided a valuable appendix on translation issues, and additionally a discussion of the different forms of Persian poetry.Glossary and valuable notes at the end of the book provide further study for those who wish to delve deeper into the mysteries presented within the verses.

It makes a great gift as well for those Rumi and Hafez lovers!
... Read more

Product Description
There are 28 short stories in 'Sufi Teaching Stories'. These tales reflect a variety of principles, values, and ideas which are entailed by the Sufi mystical tradition. Some of the stories are original. Other entries in this book constitute a refashioning of stories that have been told and re-told by Sufi spiritual guides down through the ages. The 28 stories in 'Sufi Teaching Stories' touch the spirit, soul, mind, and heart in essential ways. ... Read more

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The Naqshbandi Sufi Way explores the origins and history of the Naqshbandi Sufi order. Through the exploration of the lives of the 40 Masters of the Naqshbandi Order, the reader is taken on a spiritual journey deep into the self. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Excellent Read
This is the first book I've purchased online and I must say it's the best book I've ever read! The stories are amazing and superbly arranged. Amazing author!

People living for God
This book by Muhammad Hisham Kabbani give so much background on the tariqat and deep dive into the lives of saints of Naqshabandi sufi way.Book motivated and affected me deeply and my way of looking life changed and I have much peace than what I had before.My Allah sanctify the secrets of Mawlana Sheikh Hisham Kabanni.

Secrets of the Divine Path Unveiled
Secrets Upon Secrets: Sh. Nazim description of one of many unveilings "He prayed the Dawn Prayer and I prayed behind him. Outside I could hear the bombardment of the two armies. He gave me initiation in the Naqshbandi Order and he said to me, 'O my son, we have power that in one second we can make our murid reach his station.

As soon as he said that he looked into my heart with his eyes, and as he did so they turned from yellow to red, then to white, then to green and black. The color of his eyes changed as he poured into my heart the knowledge associated with each color.

What are the Nine points , What are the Colors, Who are the Saints in Charge of Those Points, Meditations Practices etc..all inside this masterpiece
For More Secrets you have to buy the book !

Wonderful guide to the great Naqshbandi Sufi Order
This book by Shaykh Hisham is a wonderfully produced and poetic work, beautifully presented, about the Most High Naqshbandiyya Order of Sufis. It gives detailed biographies--not available elsewhere in English--of some of the greatest Muslim saints who were part of this chain. Also, as the Naqshbandiyya Order is uniform up to Hazrat Muhammad Mas'um (May Allah sanctify his secret!) in the names of its Masters, only then splitting up into different sub-orders, this is a good history book also of the Naqshbandiyya in general and of the Naqshbandiyya-Khalidiyya in particular. Beautiful!!

Authentic voice of the way that leads to God
This is a miracle. Words cannot express the praise of this book. It needs a soft and pure heart to be appreciated in its full strength. The honorable Shaikh Hisham Kabbani has done the impossible. He captured the divinerealizations of the pure hearts in words of ink. Therefore the heart ofreader shall smell the divine fragrance of the pure hearts an will beilluminated and decorated with heavenly buties ... Read more