Customer Reviews

The Book of Wisdom (Classics of Western Spirituality)

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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.

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

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!

I was told by a reliable source, that this text may not be an actual rendering of Ibn Ata'ullah. Either way, it is a fine book to go through if you would like to know how to read a sufi book. I was fortunate enough to go over this text with a leading Sufi Scholar, and Shaykh. My sincere advice is this: The book is definatly worth purchasing, as well as the price is right!

But really, really use the wisdoms that are in this book! It is imperative to your life that you actually have this fine work translated into English, only USE IT! Ex: Having presence of Allah during prayer! This texts gives stories, andedotes, and medicine to actually get your prayer going in the right direction. But remember my friends, You can't be a sufi by reading a book, you need a qualified Shaykh, Sharia, and spiritual aspiration (himma) May Allah be with you!