Sufism Mystics And Saints In Modern Egypt

For centuries Sufism—Islamic mysticism—held a major place in Islamic spirituality, intellectual life, and popular religion. While many scholars have commented on Sufism's decline, few have delved deeply into present-day Egyptian Sufism or considered it as a system in its own right. Drawing on her detailed fieldwork and a variety of little known literary sources, Valerie J. Hoffman presents Sufism as it exists in Egypt today, in the vivid experiences of its adherents. With an array of conclusions that overturn widely held beliefs about modern Sufis, Hoffman argues that the apparent assimilation of Egyptian Sufism masks a thriving movement hidden from the Western world. From her experiences as a quasi disciple of a Sufi master, she offers new insights into the movement's evolution, the vital role of women in Sufism, and Sufi perspectives on gender and sexuality.

an engaging participant-observer study 'on par with Elizabeth Fernea's classic work'.

A 1964-6 study of the transformations and adaptations of Sufism in society.

This ebook is a selective guide designed to help scholars and students of Islamic studies find reliable sources of information by directing them to the best available scholarly materials in whatever form or format they appear from books, chapters, and journal articles to online archives, electronic data sets, and blogs. Written by a leading international authority on the subject, the ebook provides bibliographic information supported by direct recommendations about which sources to consult and editorial commentary to make it clear how the cited sources are interrelated related. A reader will discover, for instance, the most reliable introductions and overviews to the topic, and the most important publications on various areas of scholarly interest within this topic. In Islamic studies, as in other disciplines, researchers at all levels are drowning in potentially useful scholarly information, and this guide has been created as a tool for cutting through that material to find the exact source you need. This ebook is a static version of an article from Oxford Bibliographies Online: Islamic Studies, a dynamic, continuously updated, online resource designed to provide authoritative guidance through scholarship and other materials relevant to the study of the Islamic religion and Muslim cultures. Oxford Bibliographies Online covers most subject disciplines within the social science and humanities, for more information visit www.aboutobo.com.

DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of "Mystics and Saints of Islam" by Claud Field. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature.

Preaching Islamic Renewal examines the life and work of Muhammad Mitwalli Sha‘rawi, one of Egypt's most beloved and successful Islamic preachers. His wildly popular TV program aired every Friday for years until his death in 1998. At the height of his career, it was estimated that up to 30 million people tuned in to his show each week. Yet despite his pervasive and continued influence in Egypt and the wider Muslim world, Sha‘rawi was for a long time neglected by academics. While much of the academic literature that focuses on Islam in modern Egypt repeats the claim that traditionally trained Muslim scholars suffered the loss of religious authority, Sha‘rawi is instead an example of a well-trained Sunni scholar who became a national media sensation. As an advisor to the rulers of Egypt as well as the first Arab television preacher, he was one of the most important and controversial religious figures in late-twentieth-century Egypt. Thanks to the repurposing of his videos on television and on the Internet, Sha‘rawi’s performances are still regularly viewed. Jacquelene Brinton uses Sha‘rawi and his work as a lens to explore how traditional Muslim authorities have used various media to put forth a unique vision of how Islam can be renewed and revived in the contemporary world. Through his weekly television appearances he popularized long held theological and ethical beliefs and became a scholar-celebrity who impacted social and political life in Egypt.

How can teachers introduce Islam to students when daily media headlines can prejudice students' perception of the subject? Should Islam be taught differently in secular universities than in colleges with a clear faith-based mission? What are strategies for discussing Islam and violence without perpetuating stereotypes? The contributors of Teaching Islamic Studies in the Age of ISIS, Islamophobia, and the Internet address these challenges head-on and consider approaches to Islamic studies pedagogy, Islamophobia and violence, and suggestions for how to structure courses. These approaches acknowledge the particular challenges faced when teaching a topic that students might initially fear or distrust. Speaking from their own experience, they include examples of collaborative teaching models, reading and media suggestions, and ideas for group assignments that encourage deeper engagement and broader thinking. The contributors also share personal struggles when confronted with students (including Muslim students) and parents who suspected the courses might have ulterior motives. In an age of stereotypes and misrepresentations of Islam, this book offers a range of means by which teachers can encourage students to thoughtfully engage with the topic of Islam.

Egyptian alchemy and Sufism, with a coherent explanation of fundamentals and practices. This book explains how Ancient Egypt is the origin of alchemy and present-day Sufism, and how the mystics of Egypt camouflage their practices with a thin layer of Islam. The book also explains the progression of the mystical Way towards enlightenment, with a coherent explanation of its fundamentals and practices. It shows the correspondence between the Ancient Egyptian calendar of events and the cosmic cycles of the universe. This Expanded Edition of the book is divided into four parts containing a total of 13 chapters and five appendices. Part I: The Hidden Treasure consists of two chapters: Chapter 1: Egyptian Mysticism and Islamized Sufism will cover the differences between dogmatic and mystical routes and how ancient Egypt is the source of Sufism and alchemy. Chapter 2: The Treasure Within will cover the limitations of humans' organ of perceptions and how to find realities with such limitations. Part II: Transformation From Dust To Gold consists of five chapters—3 through 7: Chapter 3: The Alchemist Way will cover the source of alchemy as being Ancient Egypt; and the progression along the alchemist way; and the role of a guide in the process. Chapter 4: The Purification Process will cover both outer and inner purifications through the process of living in the world. Chapter 5: Basic Practices will cover general practices by the Egyptian mystics to increase their awareness of the real world. Chapter 6: The Way to Revelations will cover the methods by which a mystical aspirant can find knowledge through revelations. Chapter 7: The Heavenly Helpers will cover the role and duty of those who attained super natural powers, to help others on earth. Part III: The Public Visitation Fairs has four chapters—chapters 8 through 11: Chapter 8: The Cyclical Renewal Festivals will cover the importance of holding and participating in annual festivals. Chapter 9: Samples of Ancient-Present Festivals will cover about a dozen annual ancient egyptian festivals and how many of them are very familiar and being observed throughout the western world. Chapter 10: The Egyptian Spirited Fairs (Mouleds) will cover the main elements of a typical festival Chapter 11: Egyptian Themes of Saint's Nick Traditional Festivities will cover a comparison between the commonly known Saint Nick's Christmas traditions with a typical Ancient Egyptian festival of a folk-saint. Part IV: Come One Come All has two chapters—12 through 13. Chapter 12: Fellowship Formations covers the general structure and practices to form/participate in a mystical fellowship. Chapter 13: Auset (Isis)—The Model Philosopher covers the principles and practices of Sufism as found in the Ancient Egyptian allegory of Isis and Osiris. The contents of the five appendices are self evident from each's title, as follows: Appendix A: Miscellaneous Sufi Terms and Their Ancient Egyptian Roots Appendix B: Sleeping With the Enemy (Surviving Islam) Appendix C: Zikr—The Ecstatic Practice Appendix D: Reaching the Hearts and Minds (Effective Communication) Appendix E: The Egyptian vs. The Latin Calendar.