A pathbreaking heritage of Sufism, from the earliest centuries of Islam to the present

After centuries because the most vital ascetic-mystical strand of Islam, Sufism observed a pointy decline within the 20th century, purely to event a gorgeous revival in contemporary a long time. during this accomplished new background of Sufism from the earliest centuries of Islam to this present day, Alexander Knysh, a number one specialist at the topic, finds the culture in all its richness.

Knysh explores how Sufism has been seen by way of either insiders and outsiders for the reason that its inception. He examines the major facets of Sufism, from definitions and discourses to management, associations, and practices. He devotes precise recognition to Sufi techniques to the Qur’an, drawing parallels with related makes use of of scripture in Judaism and Christianity. He strains how Sufism grew from a collection of straightforward moral-ethical precepts right into a refined culture with specialist Sufi masters (shaykhs) who grew to become robust avid gamers in Muslim public existence yet whose authority was once challenged through these advocating the equality of all Muslims sooner than God. Knysh additionally examines the roots of the continued clash among the Sufis and their fundamentalist critics, the Salafis—a significant truth of Muslim existence today.

Based on a wealth of basic and secondary assets, Sufism is an imperative account of an essential point of Islam.