Customer Reviews

Mystical Dimensions of Islam

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The German author, (a former professor at Harvard), is somewhat of a linguistic prodigy, gifted with a talent that makes her highly valued in her country's philologically centered orientalist tradition. Not only is she fluent in the major European languages, but she knows most -- if not all -- of the languages of the Muslim World, which include Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu, Sindhi and Punjabi. Schimmel's broad linguistic scope provides her access to the multifarious expressions of Sufism in cultures as diverse as India, North Africa, Turkey, Arabia, and Iran, which she then brings to light in her book. As a result, the work is set apart from most other studies that usually focus on no more than two or three regions.

Apart from the geographical extent that Schimmel covers, she also manages to examine the *entire* fourteen hundred year history of Sufism, beginning with the death of the Prophet up to Muhammad Iqbal (d. 1938), India's Sufi orientated poet-philosopher (who Schimmel clearly has an admiration for, besides her other favourite, Rumi).

Schimmel succeeds in revealing that despite barriers of language, time, and space, the sufis were united by an unwaivering desire for Divine Proximity, whether this desire took on the form of a metaphysical sobriety as in the case of Sadruddin Qonawi, or an ecstatic and rapturous love as with Rabia. "Walayah", after all, the Arabic term for "sainthood", means "to be brought close" or "to be a friend".

_Mystical Dimensions_ begins with a highly illuminating exposition of the various approaches Western Orientalists have employed in their study of Sufism. "In the nineteenth century," Schimmel writes, "interpreters usually agreed that Sufism must be a foreign plant on the sandy desert of Islam, the religion that was so little known and even less appreciated and that could not possibly be related to any finer and hight spiritual movement" (p.8-9). One E.H.Palmer, Schimmel mentions, even suggested that Sufism was the "Primaeval Religion of the Aryan Race"! She contrasts these studies with the later more sympathetic ones by the likes of the famous Louis Massignon (who had much more than a simple academic interest in his field) and Helmut Ritter. The book ends with two very interesting appendixes, one on the symbolism of letters and the other on Sufism's feminine element.

This book is clearly the most authoritative academic work on the subject. Despite the breadth of information the work contains, it is certainly not a difficult read. Any intelligent person with an interest in the area will find it worth his or her while. Even if you decide not to read the whole work, its extensive thirty-page index makes it an excellent resource-book.

Where do I begin? This book, although old (and, some would argue - perhaps fairly - a bit dated), is an incredible scholarly work on how various mystics within Islam have understood Islam's central claim: "There is no God but God, and Muhammad is His Prophet". According to Schimmel, all of Islamic mysticism can be summed up as trying to understand this core doctrine.

Unlike some scholars today who pay more attention to differences than continuity, Schimmel's book outlines the many, many currents of Islamic thought without coming to conclusions such as "Well, it is really impossible to say what is or is not Islamic mysticism". Instead, she looks at the historical development of mystical Islamic thought, noting both consistencies and deviations, orthodoxy and heterodoxy, the noble and the shameful. The ability to walk the fine line between excessive praise and excessive criticism of a given religious tradition - in this case Islam - is walked with great care and balance by Schimmel. She recognizes that the basic goal of the mystics of Islam was to be true witnesses to Islam's central claim but that this was not always achieved.

One of the most fascinating streams of mystical Islamic thought is the understanding of the soul. This topic is discussed many times as Schimmel notes the views of different mystics; for those looking for a way out of the dead end that much of secular psychotherapy has given us, the understanding of people as containing both higher and lower natures - as well as a fundamental need for God - is something that is worth chewing on. That this view is the same as that held by classical Christianity is worth noting (and Schimmel regularly notes similarities to other religious traditions throughout her work).

This book is a thick read - in fact, it is highly detailed and can become a bit confusing at points, especially when Schimmel begins to discuss yet another person by the same name; it will take time to get through. Nonetheless, it is a highly rewarding read and, for those that seek to understand the religion of Islam better, this book will help to paint *some* of that picture in a more detailed manner.

Annemarie Schimmel is probably the foremost scholar on the Sufi poet Jelalluddin Rumi, whose poetry is suffused with love and awe of the Divine. In much of her book Prof. Schimmel projects the same love, love of Islam and its people, most especially its mystics, the Sufis. It is also extremely informative about the history of Sufism and the different branches of its mystical path. If you are interested in the history of Sufism, and want to understand mystical Islam, this is the book for you. If you are looking for a quick study, or a popular way to practice Sufism, this is not for you. ... Mystical Islam and orthodox Islam (as with most religions) are very different in practice and outlook, although there are conservative Sufis and out-there Sufis, as Prof. Schimmel aptly demonstrates. I loved this book and want to read more of her work.

This is an excellent book. Definitely my favorite.
I loved reading it. It is an amazing combination of significant content and beautiful English.

I recommend start reading from the 3rd chapter.

A friend of mine started reading and said: "Sometimes you read a book and say 'Aha!', while reading this book you go 'Aha!... Aha!...Aha!... ...'

A must read for those interested in Islam and Muslim culture, and also for those who are from a Muslim background.

Schimmel's book is a beautiful, respectful, and scholarly study of Sufism, and its related movements within science, mysticism, literature, poetry and state structures. It is a product of many years of insight and erudition, the fruit of dedicated research, and gives vast insight into these mystical and poetic aspects of Islamic civilisation.

It is a very rewarding book. However, it is worth noting that in recent decades, these expressions within Islam are increasingly viewed as heresy, and even as non Islamic, especially since the hardening of attitudes within Islam as a result of being attacked by Western crusaders. The rapidly growing movement towards Wahhabi and Salafi ways of life and belief are putting paid to much of the expression that Schimmel describes in her book. It is accurate to say that many Salafi and Wahhabi adherents would consider much of what Schimmel describes in her research as un- Islamic, and would label it as haram and the lifestyle of the Kaffir, whilst other contemporary scholars might view it as orientalist.

It is a beautiful, insightful book that Schimmel has written -- but, it is also somewhat poignant - if one is at all aware of socio political changes of the past decade, one cannot help but get the impression that the Islam she describes is no longer fully accepted in most of the Islamic world. The relentless Western attacks on Muslim society have made Islam far more austere, rigid, and wary of outside influences and free, controversial expressions of spirituality. Read Nir Rosen and Robert Fisk to learn more about the Muslim world's reaction to the savage Western attacks since the late 40's to the present time, and it will be clear why more and more Muslims are turning to an arguably more intolerant, conservative form of religious expression. Nir Rosen( a journalist of Iranian Jewish Mizrahi origin ) reports that before the American led attack on Iraq, a number of ancient religions existed and even thrived, together, in harmony. Mandeans, Shia, Sunni, Christian, and other Gnostic sects had lived side by side, with a degree of freedom and respect,that was indeed, sometimes brutally compromised but for the most part, had lasted for centuries.

Schimmel's beautiful work seems to represent forms of Islamic expression that have largely decreased now, or, certainly have been put under pressure.

No idea who Willard is as Schimmel was the author of this book. As I understand it her primary knowledge is in the sub-Continent and Turkey (where she spent a number of years teaching) and as a result, much of this book is regarding Sufism in those primary areas. A large part of this book is dedicated to Rumi (not a bad thing) and also to Persian and Urdu poets and mystics.

The downside to this is African Sufism is almost non-existent in this book. The Sufi saints of the Niger delta, Senegal and Gambia are missing. Shehu Usuamn, Nana Asma'u, Umar Tal etc... To read a serious study of that you will need to refer to specialised books on the subject (Boyd for example the 'One woman's jihad') Much of the Sufism of the Balkans is also lacking (another seriously overlooked part of the Islamic world the only books on the subject are the out of date 'The Bektashi order of dervishes' and a handful of others full of numerous errors suggesting Sufism in the Balkans is nothing more than pseudo Christianity)

This book however, is little more than Sufism of the SubContinent. If you are buying it for this you wont be disappointed if not, then I am sure you will be.

Concerning what Schimmel writes about Rumi, I would say only Chittick is better in having such a serious insight on the subject. I would also recommend 'I am wind and you are fire' by Schimmel.

Attention all batinis - this book is a must-read!

I am not sure why everyone and their grand parents are writing books on Islamic Mysticism/suffism, but no doubt this too shall pass since it is, like many other things, a seasonal phenomena. I guess some western "scholars" who have been telling everyone for a couple of centuries that Islam is an unsophisticated religion for desert dwellers , now have "discovered" that they have been full of it and in fact Islam does have a spirituality aspect to it too, (duh! Is there a religion which doesn't), of course ordinary people like us knew that all along but it took scholars a couple of hundred years to catch up. But even now, there are those who wouldn't give a "D" about a few books written here and there, and they are not going to change their mind about anything. It took a few hundred years of solid observation to get them agree that earth isn't the center of the universe. Of course we appreciate books such as these which attempt to show a more gentle side of Islam, but as they say one religion's misery is another's fortune. Religions, or rather followers of religions are like wild animals, waiting for one to get wounded so the others can move in and finish him off, more territory and less competition for donations I guess.