The Book of Wisdom (Classics of Western Spirituality) [Paperback]

Victor Danner (Author), Wheeler M. Thackston (Author), Annemarie Schimmel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1978 | Series: Classics of Western Spirituality

This highly treasured book embodies the essence of spiritual life in the Islamic tradition. Its author, a well known Sufi saint and sage of 13th century Egypt, lived during the flowering of new Sufi Orders.

Muslims of every age have been drawn to the simple, aphoristic nature of The Book of Wisdom and have learned its practical poetry by heart. This Arabic work is in three parts-the maxims, the treatises and the intimate conversations.

Victor Danner's new translation maintains the timeless quality of this work as an ever-fresh affirmation of the life in the spirit.

Kwaja Abdullah Ansari, Intimate Conversations
translation, introduction and notes by Wheeler M. Thackston.

"O God , if the night of separations is dark, we still rejoice, for
the morning of union is nigh... O God, what grace is this that
you have bestowed on your friends? Whoever recognizes you
finds them and whoever finds you recognizes them."
Kwaja Abdullah Ansari, 1006-1089

One of the major early writers of Persian mystical literature, Ansari is best loved for this collection of simple flowing sentences long used as a devotional handbook.

In these very human dialogues with God, Ansari speaks of a love and longing for his Creator as well as the frustration at his own human frailty.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Arabic (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Press (January 1, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809121824
• ISBN-13: 978-0809121823
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,189 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Islam > Sufism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well translated, well written and even well priced, August 11, 2005

By 

Gogol (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Wisdom (Classics of Western Spirituality) (Paperback)

This is realy a gem (no pun intended) In the one book you have the hikam translated by Victor Danner and also one of the books of the Afghan Sufi Abdullah al-Ansari.

The hikam is difficult enough to find so to have the two in one book is a real bonus. Some have criticised Victor Danner's translation of the Hikam (see N Kellers reliance of the traveller) but others have praised it (see the book 'School of the Shadhiliyyah') so it may be up to you to decide (it may be worth mentioning that Victor Danner was a Muslim and follower of a Sufi order (probably the Shadhili))

This rare book of Abdullah al-Ansari is also valuable as he is one of the few well known Hanbali Sufis (you may want to read 'Love theory in Hanbalite Islam' and 'Abdullah Ansari of Herat' if you can find them)amongst his works is one that was commentated upon by ibn al-Qayyum and become his work 'Madarij as-Salikin' for the stance of ibn Taymiyyah and ibn al-Qayyum on Sufism you may wish to read the book 'Sufism and Shari'ah) you may find that they were closer to Sufism than many people think.

Then only criticism I can have of this book is that it didn't provide you with the original Arabic as many Muslims may wish to memorise the hikam themselves.

Still, an exellent book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BOOK OF WISDOM, March 4, 2008

By 

Mercy Oceans (all around) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Wisdom (Classics of Western Spirituality) (Paperback)

This book is filled with oceans of wisdom. It's so powerful that reading only one sentence from this book is enough to reflect on for days! I have read some of the Hikam on the Internet, but finally I have the book and can read from it any time, any place. May Allah Most High reward Ibn 'Ata' Illah! The Intimate Conversations of Kwaja Abdullah Ansari are also very beautiful and moving. I'm very grateful for this book!
"Withdraw the heart into the arena of reflection
- nothing helps the heart more than that!"
from the Hikam of Ibn 'Ata'llah

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Hikam, August 10, 2000

By 

"ummtas" (Allah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Wisdom (Classics of Western Spirituality) (Paperback)

This book is actually a true rendering of the great Shadhali Master! The Key to Salvation was the "iffy" book as to if it was really the work of Ibn Ata'ullah.

If you do not know who this great Muslim Scholar is, get this book. Apply it, read it, use it , share it, learn it!

I highly recommend you to go over this text with a Shaykh who has ijaza to interpet it, and teach it, since the great gift of ijaza (permission) is a long lost Islamic tradition. Because the sayings are so deep, and profound you want to get the whole being of every word, syllable, and wisdom!

This is not for those who mearly want it in their ever so great Islamic book collection! This is for those who love to perfect their state to those of the great masters! If you can read one hikam, and apply it to your life, you will have much success God Willing!