Customer Reviews

Early Islamic Mysticism: Sufi, Qur'an, Miraj, Poetic and Theological Writings (Classics of Western Spirituality)

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This volume, compiled and translated by Michael Sells, is really an excellent resource for those of us who are interested in early Sufism. Sells has compiled a very useful collection of extracts from early Sufi writings. I was surprised to know that writings of Junaid apparently even still exist (and this book includes some of those writings)!

A remarkable and very valuable book -- not only from a historical perspective, but also for those wanting to increase their own spirituality. (For this purpose, I also recommend W. C. Chittick's book, "The Sufi Path of Love," a collection of translations from Jalaluddin Rumi.)

After reading this book, I got interested and bought a few other books. I came across this statement from famous Ibn Ul-Arabi "If the believer understood the meaning of the saying 'the color of the water is the color of the receptacle', he would admit the validity of all beliefs and he would recognize God in every form and every object of faith." I thought if he relay meant this, then why bother writing so many books and trying to prove or disprove this or that belief. Ibn-Ularabi does this many times, he criticizes many of his fellow theologians, philosophers, even other sufi's. If he really thinks all are right, why then bother by criticism, trying to prove so many are under "illusions" except him and a few like him. Besides would Ibn-ulArabi tell us that "Satan worshipping" is also right? The second factor that is troubling to me is the authenticity and objectivity of their"theophonic experiences". If one examines the content of their "experience" it quickly become clear that what they "witness" is nothing more than the "content" of their beliefs. Whatever they already believed in, they "witness" it. Not a single one them, as far as I know, has claimed that he /she "witnessed" a reality which made him realize a certain portion of his/her beliefs about this or that was wrong. Their experiences seem to be in perfect harmony with the " content" of their already established beliefs. If they believed that there are spheres in the heaven, then that is what they "see", if they believed in certain historical "facts" they also see it. If they believe in say in crucification, as Padre Pio, they also "see" it( though it may or may not have really happened. If you are a Hindu mystic then you will " see" say, reincarnation and how it happens, if you are a Sufi or Christian mystic who doesn't believe in reincarnation then you "see" the opposite of the fellow Hindu, you "see" how "reincarnation" doesn't happen. So my guess is that, under certain condition and practices, all the beliefs of a person turns into "Images/forms" and like a dream, a person experiences them. But these experiences are no more"objective" and reflective of "reality" out there, than the good old dreams we have.