Principal Figures in the Development of Sufism
January 31, 2012 – 12:44 am|
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Person
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Uwais Qarni (ob. 657 AD)
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Texts
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Themes
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Awareness of Muhammad’s spiritual presence
‘Uwaisi’ transmission of barakah
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Person
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Rabi’a al-Basri (717-801 AD)
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Texts
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Themes
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Post-asceticism
Love mysticism and mystical union
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Beginning of Sufism and its methodology of illumination
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Person
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Harith al-Muhasibi al-Basri (781-857 AD)
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Texts
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Ri’yala li-Huquq Allah [Method of Religious Observance]
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Themes
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First analysis of the interior life
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Person
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Dhu’l-Nun al-Misri (796-859)
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Texts
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–
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Themes
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Introduced ma’rifa [gnosis]
Read hieroglyphs
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Person
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Abu Yazid (Bayazid) al-Bistami (ob. 874/877/878)
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Texts
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Themes
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‘Intoxication’
Ejaculations [shathiyyat] (e.g. “subhani” [“Glory to me!”])
Doctrine of fana’ [annihilation] and baqa [continuance]
Ascended to the Throne of God
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Person
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Hasan al-Basri (830-910)
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Texts
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Themes
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‘Sobriety’
Theory of Union
Features in the silsilah ofmany orders
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Person
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Junayd Baghdadi (830-910)
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Texts
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Kitabu’l-Fana’ [Book of the Annihilation in God]
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Themes
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‘Sobriety’
Theory of Union
Features in the silsilah ofmany orders
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Person
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Mansur al-Hallaj (c. 858-922 AD)
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Texts
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Kitabu’l-Tawasin
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Themes
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Ecstatic (e.g. “ana’l-Haqq” [“I am the Truth!”])
God is Love
Foundations laid for Doctrine of Perfect Man (ibn ‘Arabi)
Student of Junayd
Martyred
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Person
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Abu Nasr al-Sarraj al-Tusi
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Texts
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Kitabu’l-Luma’
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Themes
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First systematic general works on Sufism
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Person
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Abu Talib al-Makki (ob. 996)
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Texts
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Qutu’l-Qulub [Nourishment of the Heart]
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Themes
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First systematic general works on Sufism
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Sufism begins to become pantheistic and antinomian. Influence of Greeks?
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Person
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Abu Sa’id abu’l-Khayr (967-1049)
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Texts
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–
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Themes
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Love poems as a genre of Sufi writing
Law is for the lower stages of the path: forbade the Haj to his students
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Person
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Ali Hujwiri (c. 990-1077)
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Texts
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Kashfu’l-Mahjub [Revelation of the Veiled]
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Themes
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Complained about doctrinal disorder in Sufism
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Person
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Abu ‘l Qasim al-Qushayri (986-1074)
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Texts
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Risala [Epistle]
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Themes
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Delivered an early classic of Sufi practice
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Person
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Abu Hamid Ghazali (1058-1111)
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Texts
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Ihya’ ‘ulumu’l-Din [Renewal of the Religious Sciences]
Kimiya-yi Sa’adat [The Alchemy of Happiness]
Mishkatu’i-Anwar [The Niche of Lights]
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Themes
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The reunification of Sufism and Islamic orthodoxy
Revelations of saints supplement those of the prophets
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Influences from Athens and Alexandria become overwhelming
Pantheism replaces the ‘interpersonal’ relation to Allah
‘Monastic’ institutions of Sufi orders form
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Person
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Muhyi’ddin Ibnu’l-‘Arabi (1165-1240)
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Texts
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Futuhat al-Makkiyya [Meccan Revelations]
Fususu’l-Hikam [Bezels of Wisdom]
Tarjumanu’l-Ashwaq[Interpreter of Desires]
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Themes
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“wahdatu’l-wujud” [“Unity of Existence”]
World is aspect of God, and in Man God becomes conscious of Himself
Al-Insan al-Kamil [The Perfect Man]
Met three times with Khidr
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Return of personal, experiential focus in Persian Sufism
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Person
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Umar Ibnu’l-Farid (1181-1235)
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Texts
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Nazm al-suluk [The Sufi Way]
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Themes
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A mystic poet for the Arabs
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Person
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Sana’i Ghaznavi (ob. 1131)
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Texts
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Hadiqatu’l-Haqiqa [Garden of Truth]
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Themes
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First Persian mystical epic of Sufism
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Person
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Faridu’ddin ‘Attar (1145/6-1221)
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Texts
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Mantiqu’l-Tayr [Parliament of Fowles]
Tadhkiratu’l-Awliyah [Memorial of the Saints]
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Themes
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Poet
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Person
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Sa’di
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Texts
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Bostan [Orchard]
Gulistan [Rose Garden]
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Themes
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Poet
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Person
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Jalalu’ddin Rumi (1207-1273)
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Texts
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Mathnawi- Ma’nawi [Spiritual Couplets]
Diwan-e Shams-e Tabrizi [Works of S-e T]
Fihi Ma Fihi [In It What Is In It]
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Themes
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Poet
An ascetic after meeting dervish Shams-e Tabrizi
Founder of Maulawi / Mevlevi dervishes
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Person
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Hafez-e Shirazi (1325/1326–1389/1390)
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Texts
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Diwan [Works]
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Themes
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Poet
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Person
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Nur ad-Din Abd ar-Rahman Jami (1414–1492)
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Texts
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Diwan [Collection]
Haft Awrang [Seven Thrones]
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Themes
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Poet
Distinguished ‘prophetic’ and ‘mystic’ Sufis |