Satan's Tragedy and Redemption: Iblis in Sufi Psychology (Numen Book Series) [Hardcover]

P. J. Awn (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

'..".there is in this study much of value for Islamists, for those who are interested in comparative literature and in comparative religion and S?fism.'
H.T. Norris, "BSOAS, 1985.
'..".the book offers a rich discussion of a central religious problem and a multi-faceted treatment of a religion all too often portrayed in one-dimensional terms.'
Michael A. Sells, "The Journal of Religion, 1985.
'"PJA's wissenschaftlich fundiertes und sehr gut geschriebenes Buch ist ein wegweisender Beitrag zur Mystikforschung und dar]ber hinaus von allgemeiner religionshistorischer Bedeutung.'
J.C. B]rgel, "Orientalistische Literaturzeitung, 1987.
'..".livre trhs documenti.'
"IBLA, 153.
'..".einer faszinierenden lekt]re...'
Michael Gl]nz, "Zeitschr. der Morgenldndischen Gesellschaft, 1986.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 235 pages
• Publisher: Brill Academic Pub (August 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9004069062
• ISBN-13: 978-9004069060
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,888,924 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautifully Lucid and Poetic Exposition., April 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Satan's Tragedy and Redemption: Iblis in Sufi Psychology (Numen Book Series) (Hardcover)

This is one of the most beautiful and profound academic books I have read in ten years of Religious Studies (and I am an Indologist). Sufism's interpretation of one of my favourite literary characters, Iblis or Satan, is rational, lucid, poetic and ultimately beautiful. I am moved by Iblis' perennial love for God and his hatred of Adam. The mythology, philosophy, and internal logic is both thought provoking and aestheticly quickening. Awn has sympathetically presented Sufism's enlightened theology on a figure much maligned by the mainstream Semitic traditions. He is to be very much congratulated!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favourite books, October 29, 2006

By 

Ayesha Riaz "ashriaz" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Satan's Tragedy and Redemption: Iblis in Sufi Psychology (Numen Book Series) (Hardcover)

This is one of my favourite books on religious studies. I came across it by chance while taking a course on world religions. Initially, this work was presented as a doctrol thesis at Harvard University and eventually was published as a book. It explains the personification of Satan within Islam in detail. The introduction is excellent, with a brief reference to pre-islamic motif of Satan, or Diabolus (as known by Christian theology). The sound biography of Satan is followed by its image as viewed by the Islamic mystics. This constitutes the main body of the book. It ends with a separate chapter which summarizes the concept of Satan/Iblis/Diabolus as beautifully as the begening. I'm glad that I read this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in looking at Satan from a different perspective.