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Divine Love: Islamic Literature and the Path to God Hardcover – July 16, 2013

by William C. Chittick (Author)

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The very heart of the Islamic tradition is love; no other word adequately captures the quest for transformation that lies at this tradition’s center. So argues esteemed professor of medieval Islam William C. Chittick in this survey of the extensive Arabic and Persian literature on topics ranging from the Qur’an up through the twelfth century. Bringing to light extensive foundational Persian sources never before presented, Chittick draws on more than a thousand pages of newly translated material to depict the rich prose literature at the center of Islamic thought.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Chittick is arguably the best scholar and translator of Classical Islamic Mysticism (Sufism) the Western World has ever produced. His books are sheer gold. But this latest work is a masterwork studded with unique spiritual gems on love.”—H.R.H. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, author of Love in the Holy Qur’an

(H.R.H. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad)

“This masterpiece is the finest scholarly study of love in Islam ever produced. Chittick’s brilliant theo-philosophical analysis encompasses all the great Islamic thinkers and offers an urgent message not just for historians of religion, but for all Muslims and for those of every faith tradition.”—Stephen G. Post, Stony Brook University

(Stephen G. Post)

“Rendering a vast Arabic and Persian repertoire into lucid English allows William Chittick to display how central love is in the Islamic tradition. Persian masters Maybudi and Sam’ânî open worlds of poetic theological reflection, detailing the origin of love, a life of love, and the goal of love.”—David Burrell, University of Notre Dame

(David Burrell)

“A profound addition to our understanding of Sufism. It will be yet another long-standing contribution in the magnificent career of William Chittick, and another confirmation of his status as one of the very leading scholars of Sufism today.”—Omid Safi, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

(Omid Safi)

“The classic Sufi poets of divine and human love—Rumi, Hafez, Attar and others—are by now familiar figures. William Chittick’s book beautifully introduces the earlier Persian (and Arabic) prose writers on love who provide the background for that love-poetry, and whose “theology of love” shaped the popular understanding of Islam through the centuries.”—James W. Morris, Boston College

(James W. Morris)

Selected as a Choice Outstanding Academic Title for 2013 in the Religion Category.

(Outstanding Academic Title Choice 2014-01-21)

Book Description

Bringing to light extensive never-translated Persian sources, William Chittick presents the rich prose literature on love at the center of Islamic spiritual thought

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Product Details

Hardcover: 520 pages
Publisher: Yale University Press; 6/16/13 edition (July 16, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0300185952
ISBN-13: 978-0300185959
Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1.4 x 9.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,449,708 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #274 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Islam > Rituals & Practice
- #549 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Islam > Quran
- #586 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Islam > Sufism

Customer Reviews

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Top Customer Reviews

A tour de force!!

ByBasilon December 11, 2013

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This is an incredible work that will no doubt completely reshape the understanding of the history of Persian Sufi literature. The main texts upon which Chittick focuses are those of Sam'ani and Maybudi, two texts that have not received the recognition they deserve. A thorough reading of Chittick's analysis demonstrates the extent to which many teachings attributed to later writers, such as Attar, Hafiz and Rumi are prefigured in Sam'ani. After reading this book, one wonders why one has not heard more about these foundation texts. Hopefully this study will lead to more studies of Sam'ani and greater appreciation for the sublime depths of the Persian literary tradition.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Sufism, Persian literature, or Islam in general. This book should be required reading for anyone who specializes in Islamic intellectual history.

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Wonderful work!

ByRoseson August 16, 2013

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This work is a classical power house. William Chittick never ceases to amaze by the subjects he presents and the extensive effort which he makes to bring such literature alive for the reader in a way that one is transformed forever after engagement with this knowledge.

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A revelation!

ByMatt Glaseron January 15, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

A masterwork of passionate scholarship. Profoundly moving and spiritually fulfilling,while at the same time correcting the historical record,and creating a more nuanced picture of early Islam, and the importance of Love to mystics including Ansari and others.

0Comment 10 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Wonderful Writer

ByS. Zoreon September 30, 2015

Format: Hardcover

I am an old student of Dr. Chitticks, I know him and his wife, Dr. Sachiko Murata quite well. I studied with them for six years, many years ago, at Stony Brook University as a Religious Studies major. Today I went to visit the Chitticks during their office hours at Stony Brook University. I am struggling with deep, personal spiritual issues, and I went to Dr. Chittick for advice. He gave me a copy of this book. I am eternally grateful. The Chitticks are wonderful people, and masters of sacred scriptures whether Islamic or Buddhist. God bless you Dr. Chittick, you and your wife are the guiding lights of my life, and you taught me everything I know about the sacred. God bless you.

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A good introduction to the Sufi view of love

ByIngridon February 12, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

William C. Chittick is a profound and very dedicated scholar and interpreter of ancient Sufi texts. This book about the topic of Divine Love in Sufism is a wonderful reading, but also somehow challenging. Chittick tries to unfold the different aspects of the theme, including the Sufi psychology of the Nafs/Soul or the Sufi interpretation of Adam's and Eve's banishment from paradise, showing that the latter (and sin per se) is seen in Sufism as necessary step of human development towards perfection.

As in other books, Chittick quotes short passages from ancient authors and explains them very good to the reader, so that it is easy to follow. This does not imply easy reading, because the text is very dense and demands high concentration. It is important to know that the ancient authors quoted are mostly earlier Sufi masters and not the common known like Rumi, Ibn Arabi etc. Who wants to learn about those, has to read other books by Chittick.

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brilliant

Bypeteron June 2, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

written by an author who knows about this subject...
I liked the depth, breadth and authentic nature ot the work
recommend to anyone interested in Sufism...

0Comment 3 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

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