Umar Ibn Al-Farid: Sufi Verse, Saintly Life (Classics of Western Spirituality) (Hardcover)

by Th. Emil Homerin (Author) "From its pre-Islamic inception, Arabic verse on wine has been closely linked to blood and the powers of life and death..." (more)
Key Phrases: Wine Ode, Poem of the Sufi Way, Shaykh-may God (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
It is worthwhile, from time to time, to pause and consider the marvelous project undertaken by Paulist Press in this series, which has brought splendid original works to the attention of scholars and amateurs alike. The latest volume in the series is Western in only the broadest sense but valuable nevertheless in its contribution to the growing body of Sufi primary texts in English. "The Wine Ode" and "Poem of the Sufi Way," al-Farid's major works, combine the rigors of Arabic poetry with Sufi insights, and they are well presented by scholar Homerin. Highly recommended.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
Based on wide and solid scholarship [and] extremely useful as a good modern translation. -- Issa J. Boullata, Ph.D. Professor of Arabic Literature, McGill University (Canada)

Based on wide and solid scholarship. The book is extremely useful as a good modern translation. -- Issa J. Boullata, Ph.D

These are elegant and poetic translations with insightful discussion and commentary. -- William A. Graham, Professor of the History of Religion and Islamic Studies, Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences

This is a finely crafted and most welcome volume of major Sufi poetry and insightful discussion and commentary on it. -- William A. Graham, Professor of the History of Religion and Islamic Studies, Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Press (May 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809105284
• ISBN-13: 978-0809105281
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,152,373 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A masterful translation of a great classic, November 1, 2001

By	"brocious" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Thank you Dr. Homerin. I discoved Umar Ibn Al-Farid 15 years ago and he changed my life. At that time I had only Arberry's dated translation of The Poem of the Sufi Way but none the less this remarkable mystical masterpiece sliced my soul like a razor. One of the few religious classics that uses erotic images addressed toward a female, it's a remarkable celebration of the creation and Dr. Homerin has made it accessible to everyone. Although there are two other works in this volume, it's the Poem of the Sufi Way that moves me most. I'd recommend trying to read it the first time in one sitting without looking at the foot notes or introduction. Then go back and read it again, this time looking at Homerin's notes. Then read it a third time straight through again. It's message pierces deep into the heart where the meanings are and at this point in our history it's not a bad thing to read a Muslim mystic who speaks so poignantly about the oneness of all things. Congratulations to the Paulist Press and Dr. Emil Homerin for this incredible and very timely publication. I actually wrote the Paulist press a decade ago and suggested that Farid would be an excellent addition to their "Classics of Western Spirituality" series so I'm very pleased with this new beautifully presented and wonderfully translated volume.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where would we be without Homerin?, December 28, 2004

By	Nora R. Hope "Knowledge without ethics is vanity" (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Umar Ibn Al-Farid: Sufi Verse, Saintly Life (Classics of Western Spirituality) (Paperback)

Homerin has performed a great service by making Ibn alFarid's life and work available to English readers in fine translations and commentaries. I have to wonder why westerners don't know more about the Sufi Moslems throughout history. Wouldn't a dose of this Umar cure Islamophobia?