Divine Manifestations: Concerning the Secrets of the Perfecting Sciences

Divine Manifestations: Concerning the Secrets of the Perfecting Sciences
Author: Mulla Sadra Shirazi
Publisher: ICAS Press
Total Pages: 222
Release: 2010-01-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1904063357

Divine Manifestations is the first English translation of Mulla Sadra Shirazi’s final work on divine metaphysics. Written at the request of his students who wanted a concise and accessible summary of his philosophy, Divine Manifestations exemplifies the rational theology Mulla Sadra is famed for. In Divine Manifestations Mulla Sadra addresses the most gripping topics in Islamic theology in a thoroughly thought-provoking manner. This work represents Mulla Sadra’s ultimate metaphysical perspective; it is interwoven with his innovative Qur’anic interpretation and is replete with commentary on, and indirect criticism of, the orthodox theology of his day. Combining both scriptural and philosophical reasoning, Mulla Sadra discusses the existence of God, His attributes, His acts, the Resurrection, and the nature of the non-material worlds. Divine Manifestations is a valuable work for anyone interested in reading Mulla Sadra’s argument for the harmony between philosophy, theology, and religion.

Divine Manifestations Concerning the Secrets of the Perfecting Sciences

Divine Manifestations Concerning the Secrets of the Perfecting Sciences
Author: Muḥammad ibn Ibrāhīm Ṣadr al-Dīn Shīrāzī
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2010
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 9781904063391

Focuses on divine metaphysics. The author wrote it in order to elucidate a new rational theology in which he demonstrated the most controversial topics in Islamic theology. He discusses the existence of God, His attributes, His acts, and the Resurrection as well as the nature of the non-material worlds.

Patterns of Wisdom in Safavid Iran

Patterns of Wisdom in Safavid Iran
Author: Janis Esots
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 280
Release: 2021-11-18
Genre: History
ISBN: 0755644921

The exceptional intellectual richness of seventeenth-century Safavid Iran is epitomised by the philosophical school of Isfahan, and in particular by its ostensible founder, Mir Damad (d. 1631), and his great student Mulla Sadra (aka Sadr al-Din Shirazi, d. 1636). Equally important to the school is the apophatic wisdom of Rajab 'Ali Tabrizi that followed later (d. 1669/70). However, despite these philosophers' renown, the identification of the 'philosophical school of Isfahan' was only proposed in 1956, by the celebrated French Iranologist Henry Corbin, who noted the unifying Islamic Neoplatonist character of some 20 thinkers and spiritual figures; this grouping has subsequently remained unchallenged for some fifty years. In this highly original work, Janis Esots investigates the legitimacy of the term 'school', delving into the complex philosophies of these three major Shi'i figures and drawing comparisons between them. The author makes the case that Mulla Sadra's thought is independent and actually incompatible with the thoughts of Mir Damad and Rajab Ali Tabrizi. This not only presents a new way of thinking about how we understand the 'school of Isfahan', it also identifies Mir Damad and Rajab Ali Tabrizi as pioneers in their own right.

The Qur'an: A Philosophical Guide

The Qur'an: A Philosophical Guide
Author: Oliver Leaman
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 328
Release: 2016-06-30
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 147421620X

Assuming no prior knowledge, The Qur'an: A Philosophical Guide is an introduction to the Qur'an from a philosophical point of view. Oliver Leaman's guide begins by familiarizing the readers with the core theories and controversies surrounding the text. Covering key theoretical approaches and focusing on its style and language, Leaman introduces the Qur'an as an aesthetic object and as an organization. The book discusses the influence of the Qur'an on culture and covers its numerous interpreters from the modernizers and popularizers to the radicals. He presents a close reading of the Qur'an, carefully and clearly presenting a variety of philosophical interpretation verse-by-verse. Explaining what the philosopher is arguing, relating the argument to a particular verse, and providing the reader with the means to be part of the discussion, this section includes: - Translated extracts from the text - A range of national backgrounds and different cultural and historic contexts spanning the classical and modern period, the Middle East, Europe and North America - Philosophical interpretations ranging from the most Islamophobe to the extreme apologist - A variety of schools of thought and philosophers such as Peripatetic, Illuminationist, and Sufi. Written with clarity and authority and showing the distinct ways a variety of thinkers have sought to understand the text, The Qur'an: A Philosophical Guide introduces readers to the value of interpreting the Qur'an philosophically.

Bedeviled

Bedeviled
Author: Dunja Rašić
Publisher: State University of New York Press
Total Pages: 251
Release: 2024-03-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1438496907

Ghouls, ifrits, and a panoply of other jinn have long haunted Muslim cultures and societies. These also include jinn doppelgangers (qarīn, pl. quranāʾ), the little-studied and much-feared denizens of the hearts and blood of humans. This book seeks out jinn doppelgangers in the Islamic normative tradition, philosophy, folklore, and Sufi literature, with special emphasis on Akbarian Sufism. Muḥyī al-Dīn Ibn ʿArabī (d. 1240) wrote on jinn in substantial detail, uncovering the physiognomy, culture, and behavior of this unseen species. Akbarians believed that the good God assigned each human with an evil doppelganger. Ibn ʿArabī’s reasoning as to why this was the case mirrors his attempts to expound the problem of evil in Islamic religious philosophy. No other Sufi, Ibn ʿArabī claimed, ever managed to get to the heart of this matter before him. As well as offering the reader knowledge and safety from evil, Ibn ʿArabī’s writings on jinnealogy tackle the even larger issues of spiritual ascension, predestination, and the human relationship to the Divine.

Towards a Jewish-Christian-Muslim Theology

Towards a Jewish-Christian-Muslim Theology
Author: David B. Burrell
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 226
Release: 2014-01-07
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1118724119

Towards a Jewish-Christian-Muslim Theology delineates the ways that Christianity, Islam, and the Jewish tradition have moved towards each another over the centuries and points to new pathways for contemporary theological work. Explores the development of the three Abrahamic traditions, brilliantly showing the way in which they have struggled with similar issues over the centuries Shows how the approach of each tradition can be used comparatively by the other traditions to illuminate and develop their own thinking Written by a renowned writer in philosophical theology, widely acclaimed for his comparative thinking on Jewish and Islamic theology A very timely book which moves forward the discussion at a period of intense inter-religious dialogue

Iran

Iran
Author: Abbas Amanat
Publisher: Yale University Press
Total Pages: 1028
Release: 2017-10-24
Genre: History
ISBN: 0300231466

A masterfully researched and compelling history of Iran from 1501 to 2009 This history of modern Iran is not a survey in the conventional sense but an ambitious exploration of the story of a nation. It offers a revealing look at how events, people, and institutions are shaped by currents that sometimes reach back hundreds of years. The book covers the complex history of the diverse societies and economies of Iran against the background of dynastic changes, revolutions, civil wars, foreign occupation, and the rise of the Islamic Republic. Abbas Amanat combines chronological and thematic approaches, exploring events with lasting implications for modern Iran and the world. Drawing on diverse historical scholarship and emphasizing the twentieth century, he addresses debates about Iran’s culture and politics. Political history is the driving narrative force, given impetus by Amanat's decades of research and study. He layers the book with discussions of literature, music, and the arts; ideology and religion; economy and society; and cultural identity and heritage.

Spiritual Mysteries and Ethical Secrets

Spiritual Mysteries and Ethical Secrets
Author: Fayd Kashani
Publisher: ICAS Press
Total Pages: 706
Release: 2012-01-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1904063500

Since its completion in the seventeenth century, this book has been lauded as a valuable textbook on Islamic spirituality and ethics as well as a spiritually enlightening read. This ground-breaking translation brings to light how Fayd Kashani engages with the Sunni Sufi tradition – particularly the ideas of al-Ghazzali – for the benefit of a Shi‘a audience. In addition to presenting the inner mysteries of Islamic ritual practices, Fayd also explains the nature of the human character and how to cultivate, balance, and eliminate various traits. Fayd Kashani centres his discussion on verses of the Qur’an and narrations (hadiths) from the Prophet Muhammad (S) and the twelve Imams (A). Serving as a useful reference work, this book includes the original Arabic narrations for the reader’s convenience. ‘This is a masterpiece…a must read book for all those who value spiritual morality.’ - Mohammad Saeed Bahmanpour ‘ICAS Press is to be greatly thanked for making this key work on ethics by this important Safavid-period scholar available in such a fine translation, together with such a useful introduction and notes.’ - Andrew Newman, University of Edinburgh

Shi'a Sects (Kitab Firaq al-Shi'a)

Shi'a Sects (Kitab Firaq al-Shi'a)
Author: Abu Muhammad al-Hasan ibn Musa al-Nawbakhti
Publisher: ICAS Press
Total Pages: 88
Release: 2007-01-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 1904063268

The earliest surviving work on Shi‘i sects, Kitab Firaq al-Shi‘a by al-Nawbakhti offers a uniquely Twelver Shi‘a perspective on early Shi‘i movements, including the Zaydis, the Isma‘ilis, and extremist sects (ghulat). History, charisma, and ideology combine in a fascinating narrative which provides a window into the early Shi‘i consciousness. Extensively annotated and highly readable, this is the first translation of this work to be published in the English language. An indispensable reference for Islamic historians, theologians, and researchers.

Desire of the Aspirant

Desire of the Aspirant
Author: Al-Shahid al-Thani
Publisher:
Total Pages: 321
Release: 2016-06-13
Genre:
ISBN: 9781907905308

The present work is a translation of al-Shahid al-Thanis Munyat al-Murid fi Adab al-Mufid wa al-Mustafid. The original Arabic work, written in 954 AH/1547 CE, quickly established itself as a core text in the Islamic seminaries, and it has long been an important source of reference for anyone interested in Islamic education and spiritual development. Now available in English for the first time, this classic work will be a valuable addition to the core reading lists of courses On Islamic ethics and spirituality. The current edition also contains an insightful introduction consisting of a biography of the author, an overview of the body of his work, a survey of his predecessors views on education, a study of his ideas on education, and an examination of his methodology of education.