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A pathbreaking history of Sufism, from the earliest centuries of Islam to the presentAfter centuries as the most important ascetic-mystical strand of Islam, Sufism saw a sharp decline in the twentieth century, only to experience a stunning revival in recent decades. In this comprehensive new history of Sufism from the earliest centuries of Islam to today, Alexander Knysh, a leading expert on the subject, reveals the tradition in all its richness.Knysh explores how Sufism has been viewed by both insiders and outsiders since its inception. He examines the key aspects of Sufism, from definitions and discourses to leadership, institutions, and practices. He devotes special attention to Sufi approaches to the Qur'an, drawing parallels with similar uses of scripture in Judaism and Christianity. He traces how Sufism grew from a set of simple moral-ethical precepts into a sophisticated tradition with professional Sufi masters (shaykhs) who became powerful players in Muslim public life but whose authority was challenged by those advocating the equality of all Muslims before God. Knysh also examines the roots of the ongoing conflict between the Sufis and their fundamentalist critics, the Salafis-a major fact of Muslim life today.Based on a wealth of primary and secondary sources, Sufism is an indispensable account of a vital aspect of Islam.

Mysticism --- RELIGION / Islam / General. --- Sufism --- Sufism. --- Islam --- History. --- Islam. --- Dark night of the soul --- Mystical theology --- Theology, Mystical --- Spiritual life --- Negative theology --- Abrahamic religions. --- Al-Ghazali. --- Al-Qushayri. --- Asceticism. --- Author. --- Bernard McGinn (theologian). --- Bruce Lincoln. --- Christian mysticism. --- Christianity and Islam. --- Christianity. --- Christopher Melchert. --- Dhikr. --- Dichotomy. --- Divine presence. --- Doctrine. --- Edward Said. --- Esoteric interpretation of the Quran. --- Exegesis. --- Fear of God. --- Fiqh. --- Font Bureau. --- God. --- Hadith. --- Heresy. --- Historiography. --- Ibn Khaldun. --- Ibn Taymiyyah. --- Idolatry. --- Illustration. --- Irfan. --- Islamic culture. --- Islamic fundamentalism. --- Islamic holy books. --- Islamic studies. --- Jews. --- Judaism. --- Judeo-Christian. --- Justification (theology). --- Kafir. --- Kashf. --- Literature. --- Louis Massignon. --- Mansur Al-Hallaj. --- Modernity. --- Monasticism. --- Mosque. --- Muhammad. --- Murid. --- Muslim world. --- Muslim. --- Mystical theology. --- Mysticism. --- Najm al-Din. --- Naqshbandi. --- Narrative. --- Occult. --- Orientalism. --- Orthodoxy. --- P. J. Conkwright. --- Persecution. --- Philosopher. --- Philosophy. --- Physician. --- Piety. --- Plotinus. --- Polemic. --- Political correctness. --- Presence of God (Catholicism). --- Princeton University Press. --- Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. --- Quran. --- Religion. --- Religious studies. --- Religious text. --- Renunciation. --- Sadr al-Din al-Qunawi. --- Saint. --- Salafi movement. --- Sayyid. --- Sheikh. --- Silsila. --- Sufi cosmology. --- Sufi metaphysics. --- Sufi studies. --- Sunni Islam. --- Tariqa. --- The Sufis. --- Theology. --- Treatise. --- Ulama. --- Umberto Eco. --- Ummah. --- Wahhabism. --- William Chittick. --- World to come. --- World view. --- Worship. --- Writing.