The Life, Personality and Writngs of al-Junayd [Paperback]

Dr. Ali Hassan Abdel-Kader (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1976 | ISBN-10: 0718902238 | ISBN-13: 978-0718902230

Al-Junayd (d. 910) was one of the most significant figures of the formative period of Islamic mystical thought and practice in the third to ninth centuries. This volume contains an account of his life, personality and writings; his doctrine; and both Arabic text and translation of his Rasa'il.

Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: Gibb Memorial Trust (December 1, 1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0718902238
• ISBN-13: 978-0718902230
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #950,401 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Junayd - Sufi master of the "School of Sobriety" of Baghdad, November 17, 2004

By 

Peacock Eye - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Life, Personality and Writngs of al-Junayd (Paperback)

This is the only book, to my knowledge, on "the life, personality and writings of Junayd of Baghdad" (819-910 AD), one of the outstanding masters in the history of Islamic Sufism.

Junayd's teachers in Sufism had been Sari as-Saqati, Ma'ruf al-Karkhi, and particularly Muhammad al-Qassab. Among Junayd's companions and disciples were such well-known figures as Nuri, al-Kharraz, Ibn `Ata, Ruwaym, Jurayri, Shibli, and Mansur Hallaj.

Junayd of Baghdad was the leading master of the "School of Baghdad", which particularly favored "sobriety" (sahw) over "intoxication" (sukr) in mystical love. In contrast, the Persian Sufi masters of "Khorasan" favored intoxication over sobriety.

Part 2 of this book contains introductions to the doctrines of Junayd, particularly his doctrines of Tawhid (divine Unity), Mithaq (divine Covenant), Fana (dissolution in the divine Presence), and Sahw (mystical sobriety).

This is a good, scholarly study of an outstanding Sufi master. The title well describes the contents of the book. Nevertheless, a comprehensive study of the legacy of Jonayd of Baghdad has yet to appear.

"When the morning dawns upon the star of wine,

the drunk and sober are shown to be equal."

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique and rare study of a Sufi master., April 8, 2007

By 

Gogol (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Life, Personality and Writngs of al-Junayd (Paperback)

A rare book that is hard to find but well worth it if you do. Forget the modern so called 'translators' (who do nothing of the sort) or 'modern interpretations' (read re-write acortind to personal opinion) This is a first class study of the life and teaching of one of the most important Sufi masters in Islamic history.

His life and teachings are studies in detail along with an English translation of some of his treaties and letters.

Also included are the original Arabic text of some of his treaties (featured above) I don't know why whoever submitted those images to Amazon chose to only show the Arabic text because it seems to suggest that the book is in Arabic (which it is not)

Highly recomended for students of Islam and Sufism.