Mystics of Islam

Sufism, the religious philosophy of Islam, is described in the oldest extant definition as ‘the apprehension of divine realities,’ and Mohammedan mystics are fond of calling themselves Ahl al-Haqq, ‘the followers of the Real.’ In order to set forth their central doctrines from this point of view, the author has drawn extensively from the material he collected over a period of twenty years for a general history of Islamic mysticism – a subject quite vast and many-sided.

In this compact volume, Reynold A. Nicholson, a renowned Islamic scholar, combines his research into Sufi doctrine and history with a rich account of the spiritual and metaphysical significance of Sufism as a living tradition. In an original discussion, unlike anything that has appeared in the past, the author places special accent on the pertinence of Sufi teachings to the modern world. Thus, the book answers ideally the need for a lucid, succinct presentation of the principal aspects of Sufism and its relevance to the apparent spiritual poverty of the contemporary world.

The Mystics of Islam makes up a delectable feast of writing that will be as treasured by the Sufi devotees as it will stir the souls of the newcomers to this mystical and passionate faith.