Sufi: Expressions of the Mystic Quest (Art and Imagination) [Paperback]

Laleh Bakhtiar (Author)

Book Description

Series: Art and Imagination | Publication Date: May 2004

Sufism is the inner dimension of Islam, expressing hidden archetypes in concrete symbols. To the Sufi, both the ritual of the worshipper and the work of the craftsman evoke the life which resides within all things: the preparedness of matter to answer the call of God. Through the Sufi themes of the descending arc of Creation, the formation of the human soul, and its return through the ascending arc of the Quest, this book brings to light the spiritual reality which underlies the forms and rhythms of the Islamic tradition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson (May 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 050081015X
• ISBN-13: 978-0500810156
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #166,687 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #49 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Islam > Sufism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Introduction to Sufism, August 10, 2000

By 

Michael P. McGarry (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sufi: Expressions of the Mystic Quest (Art and Imagination) (Paperback)

This book is a wonderful introduction to Sufism, the mystical tradition of Islam. The first part of the book is a lucid essay about the origins and basic outlook of the Sufis; Bakhtiar contrasts Creation ("the arc of descent") with the mystical quest ("the arc of the ascent"). The second part of the book is an exquisitely beautiful collection of photographs and reproductions of traditional Sufi illuminated manuscripts; the colors are strikingly clear. The third part of the book highlights particular themes in Sufism, including the Sufi understanding of geometry, architecture, music, poetry, and dreams. This book is a must for anyone who intuitively understands the connection between spirituality and the visual arts.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tasawwuf al-Irani, January 26, 2004

By 

Wesley Richard Schwein (Pope Valley, ca United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sufi: Expressions of the Mystic Quest (Art and Imagination) (Paperback)

Bismillah! Even after years of reading Sufi material, this book retains a special place in my memory for the beautiful introduction it provided to the Way of Return. This book is esentially the most inspired best coffee-table book I've ever come across, combining luxuriously illustrated design with lucid essays on the sacred quest, the relationship of shaykh and disciple, and various doctrines such as expansion and contraction in creation and consciousness. All of this places the Sufi way firmly in the unveiling of the last Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and the world of Islam. Culturally, this book favors the Iranian (and therefore Turkish and central Asian as well) tradition and neglects aspects of the Arab and Indian Sufi expressions.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to the quest of the mystic, November 26, 2010

By 

Vineyard (MI, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sufi: Expressions of the Mystic Quest (Art and Imagination) (Paperback)

Laleh Bakhtiar allocates all the cornerstones of the mystic's quest with a simple language. To do that is a feat in itself because the experiences of the inward quest cannot be easily described without often using vague metaphors and comparisons. Since there is an emphasis on the feminine qualities of the divine, like creation being one example, as a condition to a better grasp of the divine essence I like that the mystic's story comes from a woman's perspective.
The selection of the images, be it calligraphy, carpet designs or architectural masterpieces, to demonstrate and relate to the journey to the divine presence is as much revealing as the texts from holy scripture or mystical poetry.

I highly recommend it.