The Book of Certainty: The Sufi Doctrine of Faith, Vision and Gnosis (Islamic Texts Society) [Paperback]

Abu Bakr Siraj ad-Din (Author), Martin Lings (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Islamic Texts Society | Publication Date: September 1, 1996

'To express in the language of Sufism, that is, Islamic mysticism, some of the universal truths which lie at the heart of all religions'—this is the book's avowed purpose. It came into being because the author was asked by a friend to set down in writing what he considered to be the most important things that a human being can know. He was also asked to make it very easy, and despite the depth of all that it contains, it has in fact a remarkable simplicity and clarity, due no doubt to the constant use of traditional imagery which awakens and penetrates the imagination.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is an excellent introduction to Sufism, highly intelligent, balanced, lucid, well-written and in places really eloquent."  —Islamic Culture, Hyderabad

"Wonderful, short and sweet discussion of symbols and the spiritual world...important and significant window into the Sufi mode of speech." —Journal of Islamic Studies

"Abu Bakr Siraj ad-Din has bestowed upon the world a great benefaction in giving it this very important Sufic treatise."  —Islamic Quarterly

About the Author

Martin Lings, formerly Keeper of Oriental Manuscript in the British Museum and the British Library, is the author of other works on Islamic mysticism, A Sufi Saint of the Twentieth Century and What is Sufism?, both published by the Islamic Texts Society. He is also the author of Ancient Beliefs and Modern Superstitions, and Symbol and Archetype, published by Quinta Essentia, and the splendidly illustrated The Quranic Art of Calligraphy. His Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources, also published by the Islamic Texts Society, has been internationally acclaimed as a masterpiece.

Product Details

• Paperback: 90 pages
• Publisher: Islamic Texts Society (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0946621373
• ISBN-13: 978-0946621378
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #693,793 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, May 3, 2004

By 

Thomas F. Ogara (Jacksonville, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Book of Certainty: The Sufi Doctrine of Faith, Vision and Gnosis (Islamic Texts Society) (Paperback)

I review this work with some trepidation. "Martin Lings" and "Abu Bakr Siraj Ad-Din" are the same person, incidentally; Lings embraced Islam and wrote this book in Egypt, where, he indicates, it has been translated into Arabic.

My impression can be summed up succinctly. To date, I have not encountered any other original work in a Western language that incorporates and reveals so much directly transmitted Sufi lore - not Guenon, not Henry Corbin, not Frithjof Schuon - and this despite the fact that this is a little book, less than 100 pages. I was a surprised to find such material in print, and I wonder if it should have been written at all, due to the possibility of misinterpretation.

But then, I am not qualified to pass judgment on such matters. The book requires multiple re-readings to obtain all that it has to offer - then set it aside, and read it again in a couple of months. In this unenlightened age, it is a treasure.