Early Sufi Women: Dhikr an-Niswa al-Muta'abbidat as-Sufiyyat [Paperback]

Abu 'Abd ar-Rahman as-Sulami (Author), Rkia E. Cornell (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1999

This earliest known work in Islam devoted entirely to women's spirituality was written by the Persian Sufi Abu 'Abd ar-Rahman as-Sulami. The long-lost text provides portraits of 80 Sufi women who lived in the central Islamic lands between the 8th and 11th centuries C.E. As spiritual masters and exemplars of Islamic piety, they served as respected teachers and guides in the same way as did Muslim men, often surpassing men in their understanding of Sufi doctrine, the Qur'an, and Islamic spirituality. This bilingual edition includes pages from 10th-century manuscript.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

As-Sulami, the great systematizer of Sufi doctrine, originally wrote this work as an appendix to his Tabaqat, which only includes hagiographical notices on male saints.

Product Details

• Paperback: 334 pages
• Publisher: Fons Vitae; Fons Vitae Ed edition (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887752064
• ISBN-13: 978-1887752060
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,245,786 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #62 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Islam > Shi'ism

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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where are the great women??, August 11, 2000

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"ummtas" (Allah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Early Sufi Women: Dhikr an-Niswa al-Muta'abbidat as-Sufiyyat (Paperback)

Where are they? Why aren't we like them? This ancient text leaves you with those questions, and has you drilling your heart over this final though...When will I become like them?

The introduction gives insight to the ancient text that was recored by As-Sulami Rahimullah. The life of him, and the basic orginization of his text Dhikr an niswa al muta 'abbidat as sufiyyat. The introduction is very useful to those who read english translated Sufi texts, because you must be trained formally and spiritually how to read a Sufi book. Why? Just because the book is old, translated into English and available does not make it a good rendering to the actual work itself.

Regarding thr format of the book, it is in a biogrophy style, with the Arabic text facing the English. The name of the women, her Kunya, or her name she was known by. Then the narration begins with the Isnad of how As-Sulami heard of the particular woman.

You are left with nothing but awe, love and want of the divine and at least left begging Allah for their qualities. these women were true devotees, they spent their time working hard for their akhira, and taking little from the dunya. May Allah give us all a glimpse of what these women had, for they had it (mar'ifa) at every waking momment!