Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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?