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In this extraordinary and beautifully-written autobiography, Asad tells of his initial rejection of all institutional religions, his entree into Taoism, his fascinating travels as a diplomat, and finally his embrace of Islam.

In The Mysteries of the Prayer and Its Important Elements, book four of the 40 books of the Revival of the Religious Sciences, Abū Hāmid al-Ghazālī explains the inner and outer meanings of the prayer, a central practice for Muslims. He explains the acts involved in the outward elements of the prayer and outlines which of these acts are obligatory and which are sunna. He then discusses the inward requisites of the prayer--the practices of the heart-- and presents practical remedies for a distracted heart. He also discusses the annual prayers and the prayers and supplications related to events such as eclipses, the prayer for rain, guidance, and need. This readable yet comprehensive work covers an array of issues from the essential outward aspects of how to pray, to the inward aspects of the state of the heart during the prayer and how to humble oneself completely. As a practical, yet profound book, it is essential reading for Muslims who seek a deeper comprehension of prayer, and for all those interested in understanding the meaning and place of prayer in Islam.

Merton and Hinduism is the first book to thoroughly and definitively trace the lasting influence of Yoga and Hindu traditions on the life and writings of renowned author Thomas Merton, Catholic Priest and Trappist Monk, and pioneer of inter-religious dialogue. Informative and original essays by leading scholars highlight specific points of contact between Merton and various aspects of the Hindu and Yoga traditions, such as Merton and Gandhi, Merton and the Bhagavad Gita, and Merton's dialogue and friendship with key Indian intellectuals such as A.K. Coomaraswamy, among many others. Approximately half of the book collects Merton's own writings on Hinduism and Yoga, and many essays are published here for the first time. These essays portray Merton as teacher and novice master, cultural commentator, and contemplative practitioner interested in the mutually enriching dialogue among Catholic Christianity, Hinduism, and Yoga traditions.

"The Book of Contemplation is the thirty-ninth of the forty Books of The Revival of the Religious Sciences (Iòhyåa' 'ulåum al-dn) - and is the very last to appear in English translation. Abåu òHåamid al-Ghazåal's purpose in this Book is to explain the nature and importance of contemplation, or reflection, as an act that enriches the thinking person with increased knowledge of, and wonder at, the Creator and His creation. In Part 1, the author defines and introduces the subject, explaining its importance with reference to the Qur'åan, Hadiths, and sayings of wise and pious Muslims. In Part 2 he expounds his own highly original views as to the nature and fruits of contemplation. Part 3 offers detailed guidance as to the most appropriate and beneficial subjects for reflection, some relating to human traits and actions and others to Divine Attributes and Actions. In Part 4 Ghazåalåiexplores in detail aspects of God's creation which when viewed with an observant eye and considered with a worshipful heart are full of wonders and offer inexhaustible scope for reflection, from the artistry of the spider and bee to the unimaginable vastness of the heavens, which themselves are dwarfed by what lies beyond them. Abåu òHåamid al-Ghazåalåi(d. 1111) was a leading jurist, theologian, and spiritual master of the golden age of Islam, and he remains its truest advocate in modern times. As a teacher of both inward and outward aspects of faith, he presented these practical teachings in systematic form, with eloquence and precision, in his forty-part compendium of Islamic knowledge"--

Every religious tradition or metaphysical worldview involves a system of powerful symbols, most of which bear common meanings across cultures, continents, and time. This volume, complete with a 9th century Quranic manuscript, explores the significance of the most recurrent symbols and archetypes in human history and elaborates a compelling theory for why symbolism plays such an essential role in human life. The work explores certain basic aspects of symbolism in relation to the Divinity, the hierarchy of the universe, the function of human faculties and qualities, the human condition, natural objects, works of art, and the final end--all with reference to the great living religions of the world, and in particular to Christianity and Islam.

A unique work, providing the underlying spiritual principles lacking in most modern books of astrology. It is accompanied by 12 color plates of a 16th-century Persian manuscript.

Addressing 100 key issues relevant to contemporary Muslims, this collection of Islamic legal opinions seeks to concentrate on the most controversial and divisive issues within Islamic life. Providing invaluable insight into the Islamic tradition, the Grand Mufti answers thousands of questions that have been posed to him over the years. Topics of discussion include, What is the relationship between Islam and other religions? How can Muslims respond to the claim that women have been oppressed through Islam's system of inheritance? What is the Islamic view of democracy? and What are the main, touchstone books for each of the four schools of Sunni law? Each fatwa attempts to clarify important concerns that pose difficulty for the Muslims of today, and the complex answers offer answers that can be utilized daily.

In addition to scholarly articles, this volume includes Merton's own Sufi poems, insightful book reviews, transcriptions from his related lectures, and a selection of works from which he drew particular inspiration, including the work of al-Tirmidhi (d.932), which uses fascinating metaphors to elucidate the difference between the Breast, Heart, Inner Heart, and the Intellect.

The astounding autobiography of the man who transformed Rumi from a learned religious teacher into the world's greatest poet of mystical love.

Abu hamid al-Ghazali discusses the fundamentals and inner meanings of the pilgrimage, including its pillars, preconditions, and obligations. The book begins with an introduction on the merits of the pilgrimage and its rewards. Al-Ghazali explains the Qur'anic statement announcing the pilgrimage: And proclaim to the people the pilgrimage; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass--that they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of God on known days over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals.

"Rabindranath Tagore is one of the great universal mystics. As you read his Gitanjali (Song Offerings), you feel the depth and the honesty of his experience, "the great lifelong adventure," he calls it. "We are in the process of being created. We may not know exactly what is happening. But we feel the flow of life in us to be one with the universal life outside. The relation of my soul to this beautiful autumn morning, this vast radiance, is one of intimate kinship; and all this colour, scent, and music is but the outward expression of our secret communion. This constant communion, whether realized or unrealized, keeps my mind in movement; out of this intercourse between my inner and outer world I gain such religion, be it much or little, as my capacity allows: and in its light I have to test the scriptures before I can make them really my own" (Glimpses, 87). These comments from a letter he wrote on Oct. 5, 1895, come from a time when he was still "under the shelter of obscurity," enjoying "the greatest freedom my life has ever known." He thrived best in the anonymous privacy of not being famous. These poems were written from within that shelter. We feel in them the extravagant intimacy of his communion with his soul. That may be our primary response to this sequence of poems. I know it is my own. I recognize in his poetry my own feeling of inner freedom and soul friendship, along with the flooding joy of expressing that, all within a relaxed playfulness. If I may be so grandiose. I certainly do not claim his breadth of interior life. I just feel I can read many of his poems with empathy, and with some understanding"--

"An English translation of Islam, l'autre visage. Albin Michel: Espaces libres, Paris 1995, first published by Criterion, 1991."

"A truly ground-breaking study of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk-a Hasidic master who lived and thought boldly. Adventurous enough to lead a group of his followers from Eastern Europe to Palestine in the 18th century, he also modeled a heart-based, ecstatic form of Jewish spirituality. Menachem Mendel combined intense devotional practice with mystical fellowship, exemplifying his belief that one can discover the divine both deep within oneself and through interpersonal relationship. The wide-ranging, impressive essays in this volume bring this seminal figure to life and enrich our understanding of Jewish mysticism on the cusp of modernity"--

The essays in this volume of the Fons Vitae Series, Merton & Indigenous Wisdom, are spiritual exercises to explore Merton's globally inclusive religious imagination. These exercises can revitalize our ways of living as we drink from the springs of ancient views and practices. They help us to not only recognize the damage of European colonization, but to taste indigenous American wisdom as a still-living sacrament for our collective salvation. --

In book twenty of the forty books which compose the Revival of the Religious Sciences (Ihya' 'ulum al-din), Abu hamid al-Ghazali gives a full account of the customs and character of the Messenger of God, Muhammad. It is not a biography of Muhammad (peace and blessing of God be upon him) but a roadmap for those who want to strengthen their faith, increase their knowledge, and deepen their understanding of the second part of the testimony of faith, namely the first pillar of Islam. The author details the Messenger's noble nature and his miracles, while removing doubts regarding his message. He deals with the issue of the imitation of Muhammad (peace and blessing of God be upon him) noting that the ultimate source of knowledge is revelation from God which comes to us through the Messenger. This volume lays clear that the aim of the imam in this Series is to call for a return to the Sunna and the imitation of the Messenger in all aspects of life.

In the Mysteries of Charity and Its Important Elements (Kitab asrar al zakat wa-muhimatiha; book 5), and the Mysteries of Fasting and Its Important Elements (Kitab asrar al-iyyam wa-muhimatiha; book 6), of the forty books of the Revival of the Religious Sciences (Iya ulum al-din), Abu amid al-Ghazali explains the inner and outer meanings of charity and fasting, two pillars of worship for Muslims. These are two of the five books that deal with the inner dimensions of Islamic worship; books 3, 4, and 7 address purification, prayer, and pilgrimage, respectively. In book 5 al-Ghazali begins with a discussion of the various kinds of zakat and the conditions under which they become obligatory. He explains the manners related to zakat and its inward and outward conditions. He then discusses the recipients of zakat, who qualifies for it and in what circumstances, and the manners related to receiving it. Finally, al-Ghazali explains charity and its virtues. In book 6 al-Ghazali begins with the outward obligations and sunna elements of fasting, and what is required if the fast is broken. He explains the mysteries of fasting and its inner conditions. Finally, he discusses the voluntary fasts and their order in superogatory worship. This readable yet comprehensive work covers an array of issues from the essential outward aspects of paying charity, to the inward aspects of the state of the heart during the fast and how to humble oneself completely. As a practical, yet profound book, it is an indispensable guide for Muslims who seek a deeper comprehension of these two fundamental practices for Muslims, and for all those interested in understanding the meaning and role of charity and fasting in Islam.

This biographical novel presents the story of the French scholar Eva de Vitray-Meyerovitch, French translator of Mevlana, more familiarly known as Rumi. The book takes the form of a dialog between this female 20th century scholar and Mevlana, who lived in 13th century Turkey. The book is structured in 12 chapters. There are 12 parts to the sema dance of the Whirling Dervishes, the dervish group founded by Mevlana. The progression of the 12 parts of this ceremony mirrors the stages of both the life of Eva de Vitray and Rumi himself. The three are interviewed in a captivating manner. Each sema section is described at the beginning of a chapter to enhance the feeling of ritual in the book and how it feeds into her itinerary.

Rational objective physical solutions to our global problems are necessary, they cannot be sufficient. Spiritual transformation is the crucial ingredient for human survival and flourishing, as long as we survive, while there is still time. There can only be a will to Be, and an inspiring human future while human beings are still inspired. Krassen points to the clear pivot point: time. No longer can there be an aspiration to a future we project from the standpoint of the dualistic world-that-is-going, but rather the time has come embrace a hope that is embedded in a fuller, grander, and more profound understanding of what time and being actually already are. All of time is always here, in existence as we can live it. By contemplating the mystical rhythms of the Hebrew calendar, Krassen challenges us to go beyond optimism and pessimism. Both are dead ends, built on a concept of time that is outmoded. The Vanishing Path before us can still be contemplated if only we reflect on the nature of reality through an enlightened lens that makes time count so we can still Be.

Originally published: [London]: Quilliam, 1991 (Classics of Muslim spirituality; 3).

In The Mysteries of Purification (Kitab asrar al tahara), the third of the forty books of the Revival of the Religious Sciences (Ihya' 'ulum al-din), Abu Hamid al-Ghazali explains the fundamentals of the purification that is necessary in order to perform the five daily prayers.