Islamic Spirituality: Theology and Practice for the Modern World

Description

Islamic Spirituality: Theology and Practice for the Modern World examines and explores the inner dimension of Islam. The writings of important figures in the historical development of Islamic spirituality are examined, as well as the major sources of religious authority in Islam, the Qur'an and Hadith. Both classical Sufis and Sufism are explored as well as contemporary mystics. Key figures discussed include medieval Islamic theologian al-Ghazali (d.1111), and Said Nursi (d.1960), arguably one of the most important modern theologians in the Islamic spiritual tradition. Discussing both historical and contemporary dimensions of Islamic spirituality allows the author to ground classical Sufi texts in contemporary ideas and practices. Exploring spirituality in relation to key contemporary issues such as ecology, Zeki Saritoprak demonstrates how, when, and where people can practice Islamic spirituality in the Modern world. Providing an overview of the intellectual and theological basis of Islamic spirituality, and including the author's own translations of a selection of key texts, this volume is ideal reading for courses exploring Islamic spirituality and mysticism and anyone interested in the spiritual practices of nearly a quarter of the world's population.

Zeki Saritoprak is Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies and Director of the Bediuzzaman Said Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies, at John Carroll University, USA. A native of Turkey he has spent more than thirty years studying Islamic theology and mysticism. He is the author of many works on Islam, spirituality, and interfaith dialogue.

Saritoprak has produced a work that effectively navigates the boundaries of a post-orientalist world and acts as a useful introduction to Islam and spirituality. This text, given its simplistic structure and content, can provide use for almost any reader that is intrigued by Islam, mysticism, and spirituality without the marring of orientalist perspectives that plague most extant works on the subject ... The text would serve a reader pursuing leisure but also contains useful information for a beginning student of Islamic spirituality. * Reading Religion * Zeki Saritoprak has written a splendid introduction to Islamic spirituality. This book is required reading for those who wish to know more about the religious lives of Muslims, or those who wish a deeper insight into spiritual practices. * Amir Hussain, Professor of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University, USA * The strength of this book is that it brings spirituality into a new light by discussing how it can be practiced in the modern world without the idea of detachment, a traditional Sufi idea. * Usman Ghani, Assistant Professor, American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates * This is a very intriguing collection of topics on Islamic spirituality, and an excellent addition to the Islamic studies literature. * Mentor Mustafa, Lecturer, Boston University, USA *