Classical Persian Sufism

CLASSIC PERSIAN SUFISM: FROM ITS ORIGINS TO RUMI is a unique introduction into the rise and development of Persian Sufi spirituality and literature. Written in the form of essays, the book focuses historically upon the first six Muslim centuries and captures the mood of the mystics' meditative, interiorized, highly sophisticated vision of Islam.

The first volume in a three-volume set, this is a study of the rise of Persian Sufi spirituality and literature in Islam during the first six Muslim centuries. This collection of 24 essays covers the key achievements of the Muslim intellectual and cultural tradition in history, mysticism, philosophy and poetry. It demonstrates the positive role played by Sufi thinkers during this period. The subjects covered include: Sufi masters and schools; literature and poetry; spiritual chivalry; divine love; Persian Sufi literature - Rumi and 'Attar.

Focuses on the poems rather than on their authors. Surveys the development of Persian mystical poetry, dealing first with the relation between Sufism and literature and then with the four main genres of the tradition: the epigram, the homiletic poem, love poetry and symbolic narrative.

This comprehensive study is unique in its chronological breadth, intellectual diversity and historical scope and which demonstrates the central role played by Sufism in Persianate culture in Iran, Central Asia and India

I.B.Tauris in association with the Iran Heritage Foundation