The Illuminated Prayer: The Five-Times Prayer of the Sufis

by Coleman Barks, Michael Green

The Prayer is a drawing of the curtain, an invitation to a secret place that is discovered and explored. . . .

According to tradition and the testimony of Sufi mystics, The Prayer--or Salat--was first taught by the angels, who themselves practiced it in celestial adoration. The Prayer is God's gift to all humankind, and in this gorgeously illustrated volume, its simple, archetypal practice unfolds like a fragrant, many-petaled flower, joining words and movements into a single luminous event that engages our entire being.

These ancient rituals are presented here as a gift for anyone with a heartfelt desire to set aside for a moment the concerns of every day and enter a sacred time and space in which to explore the beckonings of the spirit. The authors take us through the words, movements, and hidden meanings of the Call to Prayer, the Ablutions, The Prayer itself, and the Peaceful Embrace afterwards. Faithful practice lends a sacred rhythm to each day and creates a psychological force that helps us nurture and express a profound inner harmony.

This first, marvelously accessible interpretation of The Prayer also offers a compelling introductin to the wisdom and teachings of the beloved contemporary Sufi master Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, who brought new life to this mystical tradition by opening a passage to its deepest, universal realities. It is the loving handiwork of two of Bawa's best-known students, Coleman Barks and Michael Green, who also created The Illuminated Rumi.

Like a jewel given extra brilliance by its setting, The Prayer is surrounded by the wisdom and understanding of the thirteenth-century Sufi master Rumi, whose generous poetry has become an essential canon for modern-day seekers in the West. The final gift is the Primeval Kalima, the core practice and most profound teaching of the Sufi, the "open secret" that leads to Divine Luminous Wisdom.

Genres: Islam, Spirituality, Religion, Poetry, Nonfiction, Faith, Prayer

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 25, 2000

About the author

Coleman Barks is an American poet. Despite the fact that he admittedly speaks no Persian, he is world-renowned as a translator of Rumi and other mystic poets of Persia. Barks taught literature at the University of Georgia for three decades. He makes frequent international appearances and is well-known throughout the Middle East. Barks's work has contributed to an extremely strong following of Rumi in the English-speaking world. Due to his work, the ideas of Sufism have crossed many cultural boundaries over the past few decades. Coleman Barks received an honorary doctorate from Tehran University in 2006.

Reviews

[Alexander]

to me Prayer is like...a code which you constantly repeat so that you don't forget that you are just in the Matrix )

[miteypen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated devotional not only for Muslims, but for anyone interested in the spiritual side of life.

[Pat Loughery · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting illustrated/illuminated (collaged, most specifically, and as such not really my favorite form of illumination, but still well done) look at the Sufi Salat. Lovely illumination in a modern form, and some commentary on the practice of prayer from our Sufi sisters and brothers.

[Eire Boudicca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could relate to a lot of this book because of my own mystical experiences. The artwork was very evocative of states I have experienced and imagined. I really liked it and would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for insight into Sufism.

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful!

[Qonita · Rating 3 out of 5]

was expecting to find mystical experience of sufi people in their prayers, but didn't find much. just a good introduction for people who don't know about islamic prayers.

[El · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully, if trippy, illustrated guide to a simple subject, salat (Muslim prescribed prayers). As this book comes from the Sufi perspective, much attention is given to the meanings behind the actions (salat as "blessing", "grace" and "heart-surrender") and to the spiritual state. Most books on Muslim prayer are sterile reads, serving only as instruction manuals to the physical postures, memorization and practices integral to these prayers - the sheer amount of instructional material can be overwhelming.
'The Illuminated Prayer' is more accessible to the North American reader used to spirituality that speaks to the heart.

[Seema · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first bought this I was taken aback when I opened it up and took a look at the illustrations. I guess they didn't conform to my conditioned ideas of what a Muslim prayer book should look like. So I put it away unread on the bookshelf..a year later and I visited it again - the relationship was completely different and this has a lot to do with my finding Sufism (inspired by Rumi, see Sufism.org interesting Info)
It's beautiful. My preconceptions hadn't allowed me to see it. Deeply inspiring. Huuu

[Greg Hurd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book and beautifully illustrated about the daily prayers of Sufis. It has many wonderful thoughts about life.

[Jgrimm5988 · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to pray.

[Tracy Laveque · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shares the wisdom and beauty of the Muslim prayer practice from the Sufi mystic's perspective.