Sufism: The Formative Period

The New Edinburgh Islamic Surveys

by Ahmet T. Karamustafa

Ahmet T. Karamustafa bases this study on a fresh reading of the primary sources and, by integrating the findings of recent scholarship on the subject, presents a unified narrative of Sufism's historical development. His innovative analytical framework reveals the emergence of mystical currents in Islam during the ninth century and traces the rapid spread of Iraq-based Sufism to other regions of the Islamic world, providing an integrated, comprehensive understanding of one of the most compelling aspects of late antique, early medieval Islamic religious history.

Edinburgh University Press

Genres: Islam, History, Religion

256 pages, Paperback

First published July 2, 2007

Reviews

[Talat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because of his great meticulousness and diligent scholarship Ahmet Karamustafa's book promises to stand out as among the most detailed and comprehensive introductions to Sufism (especially if this is a second volume follows to cover the later period). As a scholarly achievement, Karamustafa's book parallel's Annemarie Schimmel's classic "Mystical Dimensions of Islam. (It's quite telling of the commidifying of Rumi that the marketers chose to put a photo of whirling dervishes on a book leading up only as far as the century before Rumi was born.) This text is an advanced study, written with clarity, depth, and authority. Few introductory texts have previously explained the early Sufi masters so clearly, systematically, and precisely.

[arafat · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short but good historical survey of the formative period of Sufism. The book challenges many popular misconceptions about Sufism, both amongst its practitioners and those who are not. Karamustafa examines the extent to which early Sufi Muslims were thoroughly "mainstream" and does a pretty good job of presenting both their lives as well as their thoughts and ideas (included is a chapter that outlines their written works, both extant and lost). Overall, a good academic work that's also accessible to the general reader.

[Ugur Kaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ender çalışmalardan biri. Sufi'lerin şimdi mütedeyyin kesime marjinal gelecek kimi alışkanlıklar geliştirdiklerini ve bunların aslında modern insanın etiğine daha çok uyumlandığı çıkarımını yaptım ben. Ama en önemli unsurları Tanrı'ya olan teslimiyetleri. Yunus'u, Hacı Bektaş'ı var eden en önemli tutku biçimi: teslimiyet.

[tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this book provides a good, comprehensive overview of the development and emergence of Sufism throughout history.

[Nik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a comprehensive historical review on the development of Sufism. It traced back the origin of Sufism. The details findings of Sufism early days as from its origin to the important development throughout history that led to the subject being studied today – made this book a relevant reference in the study of Sufism.

[Matt Friedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant and informative read, even if also rather dry.

[Kultoum · Rating 4 out of 5]

awesome