Fakhruddin Iraqi: Divine Flashes

The Classics of Western Spirituality

by Fakhruddin ʿIraqi, William C. Chittick (Translator), Peter Wilson (Translator)

"An ambitious and much welcomed series....The books will be welcomed not only by those who are interested in deepening their knowledge of the Western spiritual tradition but also by those who are looking for more than the usual gruel served up by many of our contemporary 'spiritual' writers." The New Review of Books and Religion Fakhruddin Divine Flashes translated and introduced by William C. Chittick and Peter Lamborn Wilson prefaced by Seyyed Hossein Nasr Before this there was one heart but a thousand thoughts. Now all is reduced to There is no god but God. Fakhruddin 'Iraqi (1213-1289) Fakhruddin 'Iraqi was one of the foremost expositors of Sufi teachings and one of the greatest of Persian poets. Born in 1213 (618) in the city of Hamadan in west Persia, he lived during the revival of Islamic spirituality that was shaped by the writings of Jalaluddin Rumi and Ibn 'Arabi'. 'Iraqi's masterpiece "Divine Flashes" became a popular and influential text in Persian speaking Islamic lands. The work's beautiful descriptions of "the mysteries of Union" in the language of love are classic expressions of Sufi love mysticism. In this volume, William Chittick and Peter Wilson present the first English edition of " Divine Flashes" with a sensitivity that conveys both the metaphysical richness and the poetic subtleties of the work. Writing in the preface to this book, Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr says of "If he sang the love of God in verses of great beauty, it is because his soul had itself become a song of God, a melody in harmony with, and a strain of, the music issuing from the abode of the Beloved". †

Genres: Islam, Spirituality, Poetry, Religion, Mysticism, Philosophy, Theory

194 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Born in modern-day Iran, Fakhr al-Dīn ʿIraqi (Farsi: فخرالدین عراقی) (also transliterated Fakhruddin ʿIraqi) was a Muslim poet in the Islamic esoteric tradition (Al-taṣawwuf).

Reviews

[Ivan Granger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iraqi bridged several Sufi traditions and traveled through much of the Muslim world. Born in Iran (not Iraq), he became a member of an important Sufi order in India/Pakistan. For political reasons, he escaped to Turkey. There he studied the philosophy of Ibn Arabi, inspiring his stunning “Divine Flashes” — spiritual commentaries, peppered with short poetic verses. Very highly recommended!

[Mark David Vinzens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fakhruddin Iraqi is one of the great Sufi masters and poets, a gnostic who spoke in the language of love. The „Divine Flashes“ (Lama’at) are an invitation to a deeper contemplation of the truth of divine oneness. The whole book can be summarized in this one sentence: „Only the One Being is“ - and that Being, our true Self, is the life-giving breath and spirit of infinite divine love.

“I am Love: in heaven and earth I have no place;
I am the Wondrous Phoenix whose spoor cannot be traced.

(p. 72)”
― Fakhruddin Iraqi, Fakhruddin Iraqi: Divine Flashes

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Divine flashes indeed! Throughout this book, I had glimmers of a feeling that my self was a burden, one that I didn’t have to carry, and that I could abandon into an expansive nothingness that was and is the “default setting.” It was marvelous. If only it would last...

[Erin Aslami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impossible to believe this is made of words

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writings of a Sufi contemporary of Rumi. Focuses on achieving union with the Divine. I had never heard of Iraqi before, but the introduction provides an excellent context for his writings. It also includes a critical essay explaining the mystical writings.

[oludamini]

startlingly beautiful commentary on the Fusus and after Conference of the Birds one of the works nearest to my heart

[Ervina Bajrami · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book...
this book is Love
this book is Beloved
this book... ah this book!!

*It’s not finished, for it will never end!

Eid Mubarak!