Aisha al-Ba'uniyya: A Life in Praise of Love

Description

Aisha al-Ba'uniyya (c.1456-1517) was one of the greatest women mystics in Islamic history. A Sufi master and an Arab poet, her religious writings were extensive by any standard and extraordinary for her time. In medieval Islam a number of women were respected scholars and teachers, but they rarely composed works of their own. Aisha al-Ba'uniyya, however, was prolific. She composed over twenty works, and likely wrote more Arabic prose and poetry than any other Muslim woman prior to the twentieth century. The first full-scale biography of al-Ba'uniyya in the English language, this volume provides a rare glimpse into the life and writings of a medieval Muslim woman in her own words. Homerin presents her work in the wider context of late-medieval Islamic spirituality, examining the influence of figures such as Ibn al-'Arabi, al-Busiri and Ibn al-Farid, and emphasising the role of the person of the Prophet Muhammad in her spirituality. Clearly and beautifully written, Aisha al-Ba'uniyya is a fascinating introduction to a figure described by a sixteenth-century biographer as 'one of the marvels of her age'.

Th. Emil Homerin is Professor of Religion at the University of Rochester, where he teaches courses on Islam, classical Arabic literature and mysticism. He is the author of six books on Islamic mysticism and Arabic poetry. He lives in Pekin, Illinois.

'In this highly readable book, Th. Emil Homerin skilfully weaves Aisha al-Ba'uniyya's life, work, and her inner and external worlds together with insightful erudition.' -- Li Guo, Professor, Arabic Studies Program, University of Notre Dame 'In this beautifully written study, Th. Emil Homerin situates Aisha's work in its literary and historical context... This book is an important contribution to the study of Muslim women's spirituality.' -- Adam Sabra, Professor of History and King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud Chair in Islamic Studies, University of California