Sufitum und Islam

by Nuh Ha Mim Keller

Abhandlung von Scheich Nuh Ha Mim Keller über die Grundlagen und Ursprünge des Sufismus, in der er darlegt, daß dieser sehr wohl seine Ursprünge im Islam hat und Bestandteil von ihm ist, und nicht eine von außen in den Islam eingedrungene Lehre.

Genres: Islam, Religion

36 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 11, 2002

About the author

Nuh Ha Mim Keller (born 1954) is an American Muslim translator of Islamic books and a specialist in Islamic law, as well as being authorised by Abd al-Rahman al-Shaghouri as a sheikh in sufism in the Shadhili Order. He is one of the foremost Muslim theologians and experts on Sufism in the West. Keller was born in 1954 in the Northwestern United States. He studied philosophy and Arabic at the University of Chicago, located in Chicago, Illinois, and the University of California, Los Angeles, located in Los Angeles, California. Keller converted to Islam from Christianity in 1977.

His English translation of Umdat al-Salik (Reliance of the Traveller) was the first Islamic legal work in a European language to receive the certification of Al-Azhar University. This translation has led to this work becoming influential among Western Muslims. In addition to his authorization to be a spiritual guide, Nuh Ha Mim Keller possesses ijazas, or "certificates of authorisation", in Islamic jurisprudence from scholars in Syria and Jordan.

Reviews

[Isa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since my conversion, I’ve been wary of Sufism. It receives much negative press on social media & I always felt it was maybe a little too close to the Catholic ways that I had left behind me.

Despite my partial athari/salafi leanings, I still feel the need to let every side speak for themselves, I have to be true to myself & stick to my process, as this is what led me to Islam in the first place. My brother recommended this book (and indeed it was his book I borrowed, with the book now apparently out of print.)

I must admit, I found the book extremely balanced & a fantastic, educational read (especially considering that the book was only 30 pages or so.) As the author says, most scholars of the past who have had negative things to say about Sufism have usually not had an issue with actual Sufism, but rather certain practitioners of Sufism.

I would recommend this book to those who are athari/salafi leaning like myself. This book has not moved my position, rather it has shown me that much of what Sufism teaches most definitely falls within the athari/salafi areas as well.

[Sanaa Mehboob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nearly everything you need to know about basic of sufism...loved reading it.