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The soaring voice of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the ecstatic dance of the Whirling Dervishes, the rapturous verse of Jalaluddin Rumi—all are expressions of Sufism, often regarded as the mystical tradition of Islam. Who are the Sufis? They are more than mystics; they are empowered by the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad. They are guided by saints and masters. They belong to orders ranging from North Africa and Turkey to India and Central Asia. In addition to prayer and fasting, they practice techniques of meditation. They recite poetry, delight in music, and perform dance, all towards one goal—union with God, the Divine Beloved. This comprehensive introduction clarifies the concept of Sufism and discusses its origin and development. In addition, the author discusses the important issues of Sufism's relationship with the larger Islamic world and its encounters with fundamentalism and modern secularism, along with the appropriation of Sufism by non-Muslims and the development of Sufi traditions in the West.
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THE SUBJECT OF SUFISM is difficult to approach. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
THE SUBJECT OF SUFISM is difficult to approach. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
THE SHAMBHALA GUIDE to SUFISM is a virtuoso performance in academic scholarship. The complex difficulties of the subject can be readily appreciated form the fact that the first 30 pages are devoted to an effort to define the meaning of the words sufi and sufism. It is a global misfortune that in our commonly received historical accounts political and religious forces have been conflated, leading Islam and Christendom to regard each other as enemy. Into these dark clouds of mutual misunderstandings Prof Ernst brings his brilliant light. His book needs to be widely read, for the benefit of both East and West; pace Kiplng, in Ernst the twain have met. He has rendered a public service. Star rating: 5X2.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
6 reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Good Supplement, but Start Elsewhere
28 Nov 2003
Format:Paperback
This book's greatest strength is also its greatest weakness: Ernst writes his introduction to Sufism from a strong socio-historical standpoint with both eyes focused on Orientalism, that is, how the West has portrayed Islam (among other traditions) in ways that have been less than accurate. This is welcome. Yet, in focusing so much on socio-historical issues, Ernst ends up sacrificing the larger picture of what it is that Sufism is about phenomenologically and theologically.
Ernst does explain some things quite well, though, such as the development of Sufi orders, the role of the shaik to the disciple, art, dance, and meditation practices. Particularly fascinating is the brief discussion on the relationship between Islamic fundamentalism and Sufism. Sufism is viewed by the fundamentalists as a type of heretical pseudo-Islam, and the Sufis have been persecuted and killed in many places by over-zealous fundamentalists. What Ernst's book shows is that many of these supposedly heretical practices are actually rather traditional expressions of Islamic mysticism and spirituality, with roots stretching back quite far.
Socio-historical perspectives aside, though, you won't learn much about the spirit of Sufism. For that, I would recommend Annemarie Schimmel's _Mystical Dimensions of Islam_ as an excellent place to start. Then, for a greater insight into socio-historical issues, you may continue with reading Ernst's book.
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Virtuoso scholarship that renders a public service.
18 Oct 1998
Format:Paperback
THE SHAMBHALA GUIDE to SUFISM is a virtuoso performance in academic scholarship. The complex difficulties of the subject can be readily appreciated form the fact that the first 30 pages are devoted to an effort to define the meaning of the words sufi and sufism. It is a global misfortune that in our commonly received historical accounts political and religious forces have been conflated, leading Islam and Christendom to regard each other as enemy. Into these dark clouds of mutual misunderstandings Prof Ernst brings his brilliant light. His book needs to be widely read, for the benefit of both East and West; pace Kiplng, in Ernst the twain have met. He has rendered a public service. Star rating: 5X2.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Good of this Sort
29 Aug 2001
Format:Paperback
It's probably easier to define what this book is NOT, rather than what it is. It is not a compendium of Sufic thought or Sufi lore, so if that's what you're looking for, look elsewhere. Fortunately, there are any number of other books that can satisfy your curiosity in these areas.
What this book tries to do is perhaps more difficult - sort out the various Sufi organizations worldwide and provide some intelligent guidance on their affiliations, origins and characteristic beliefs. Some may balk at the suggestion of approaching Sufism in this way; however, anybody who has spent some time in the Middle East can confirm that on a day-to-day level the Sufic brotherhoods often act as nothing more esoteric than any other faith-based fraternal organization you may find in the West, and most of their members are far from being spiritual masters.
On this basis the book purports to help the would-be spiritual seeker get his bearings. I would say there is a need for such a book, and anyone interested in Islamic spirituality as it is currently practiced would probably gain much from this guide.
What this book tries to do is perhaps more difficult - sort out the various Sufi organizations worldwide and provide some intelligent guidance on their affiliations, origins and characteristic beliefs. Some may balk at the suggestion of approaching Sufism in this way; however, anybody who has spent some time in the Middle East can confirm that on a day-to-day level the Sufic brotherhoods often act as nothing more esoteric than any other faith-based fraternal organization you may find in the West, and most of their members are far from being spiritual masters.
On this basis the book purports to help the would-be spiritual seeker get his bearings. I would say there is a need for such a book, and anyone interested in Islamic spirituality as it is currently practiced would probably gain much from this guide.
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