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A lot of discussions recently about works that present an inaccurate view of Islamic spirituality. I wanted to share a thread on accessible and accurate English primary sources on #Sufis, #Sufism #Islamic #spirituality.
(prioritizing primary sources, not secondary studies).
Love Is the Wine: Talks of a Sufi Master in America. By Sheikh Mozaffar Ozak. Sohbet genre book by a leading 20th century Sufi teacher. amazon.com/Love-Wine-Talk…
Beauty and Light. By Cemalnur Sargut. Powerful book by a leading female Turkish mystic. fonsvitae.com/product/beauty…
A Sufi Saint in the Twentieth Century: Shaikh Ahmad al-Alawi – His Spiritual Heritage and Legacy
AUTHOR: MARTIN LINGS
fonsvitae.com/product/a-sufi…
The first volume of Masnavi, translated by Jawid Mojaddedi.
amazon.com/Masnavi-Book-O…
Listen: Commentary on the Spiritual Couplets of Mevlana Rumi. Probably the best one volume English commentary on the Masnavi.
AUTHOR: KENAN RIFAI
TRANSLATOR: VICTORIA HOLBROOK

fonsvitae.com/product/listen…
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman and Robert Frager. A very accessible introduction.
amazon.com/Essential-Sufi…
Gayan by Hazrat Inayat Khan. A poetic and deeply mystical book by the South Asian Sufi who’s usually seen as the first Sufi to have come to the West.
omegapub.com/?page_id=89
Madeline: Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan. Heartbreakingly beautiful book about the life and teachings of Noor-Un-Nisa, Sufi woman, musician, and spy whose chivalrous bravery in resisting the Nazis led to her martyrdom.
omegapub.com/?page_id=3004
A book of God’s love by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen: bmf.org/shop/a-book-of… Tiny little pocket book of wisdom from the luminous Sri Lankan sage who came to America in the 1970s and 1980s.
Quest for the Red Sulphur: The Life of Ibn ‘Arabi. Best one volume biography of Ibn ‘Arabi.
AUTHOR: CLAUDE ADDAS

fonsvitae.com/product/quest-…
The Way of Sufi chivalry by al-Sulami. Beautiful book on Sufi friendship and companionship.
amazon.com/Way-Sufi-Chiva…
When You Hear Hoofbeats Think of a Zebra
By Shems Friedlander. Little cult classic. amazon.com/When-Hear-Hoof…
Annemarie Schimmel. Mystical Dimensions of Islam. A secondary study that reads like a primary source. A beautiful written masterpiece that stands the test of time.
amazon.com/Mystical-Dimen…
‘Attar, Speech of the Birds. Complete translation of ‘Attar’s masterpiece Manteq al-Tayr.
amazon.com/Speech-Birds-I…
Sells, Michael A. Early Islamic Mysticism: Sufi, Qur‘an, Mi‘raj, Poetic and Theological Writing.
A beautiful anthology of early Arabic Sufi material. amazon.com/Early-Islamic-…
Nizam Ad-Din Awliya: Morals for the Heart. Translated by Bruce Lawrence. Beautiful book on the life of the most influential South Asian Sufi, of the Chishti order.
amazon.com/Nizam-Ad-Din-A…
Losensky, Paul. Farid ad-Din ‘Attar’s Memorial of God's Friends: Lives and Sayings of Sufis. Lovely anthology of early Sufis. amazon.com/Farid-ad-Din-A…
Uruc Guvenc, Oceans of Remembrance. All-time favorite Sufi CD by a master Sufi and musician. OK, I know people don’t buy CDs anymore. But this is a must. Download, go to spotify, whatever.
Women of Sufism: A Hidden Treasure by Camille Helminski. amazon.com/Women-Sufism-C…
Ok, I’ll include my own anthology of Sufi wisdom from the Path of Radical Love. Called, what else, but: Radical Love: Teachings from the Islamic Mystical Tradition. This will help you see where Rumi comes from:
amazon.com/Radical-Love-T…
If you want something video-based, check out my own online course “heart of Rumi’s Poetry”, and more courses coming soon, insha’allah:
illuminatedcourses.com/theheartofrumi…
Early Sufi Women. AUTHOR: ABU ‘ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-SULAMI
TRANSLATOR: RKIA ELAROUI CORNELL

fonsvitae.com/product/early-…
Caravan of Souls;
An Introduction to the Sufi Path of Hazrat Inayat KhanCaravan-of-Souls-web
Compiled and edited by Pir Zia Inayat-Khan
omegapub.com/?page_id=65
I think I'll stop here. Remember that any such short thread is selective and partial. These are some of the works that have spoken to my heart. May they touch yours. <3 Blessings, and joy.
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