The notion of esoteric knowledge is one of the pillars of the intellectual traditions in Islam. Though most visible in Sufism, it also dominated the first three and a half centuries of Shi‘ite thought, speaking to a commonality of ideas across sectarian boundaries and philosophical schools. Indeed, the esoteric – comprising the gnosis (ma‘rifat), the basic interior knowledge or ‘ilm al-batin of any given field of Muslim science – resides within nearly all Islamic theology, philosophy and gnosis.
In this rich anthology, Leonard Lewisohn explores Islamic esotericism through the works of eleven authors who flourished in Persia, Central Asia and Asia Minor from the eleventh to the nineteenth centuries. He presents excerpts from each text in translation, accompanying these with introductions to the author’s life, works and thought. In the course of his erudite and enlightening commentary, he explores the common ground of esoteric thought and terminology, revealing a unity of perspective among Muslim thinkers.
For anyone interested in Islamic mysticism, this volume is a valuable resource, featuring selections from works by Mustamli Bukhari, Ghazali, Maybudi, Hamadhani, Ibn Arabi, ‘Izz al-Din Kashani, Haydar Amuli, Turkah Isfahani, Mulla Sadra, ‘Abd al-Razzaq Lahiji and Sabzawari.
