Ernst's research, based on rare Persian manuscripts preserved in Sufi shrines in the medieval town of Khuldabad, a major centre of pilgrimage in the Indian Deccan, reveals the mystical teachings and practices of the Chishti Sufi order as taught by the ecstatic Shaykh Burhan al-Din Gharib (d. 1337) and his disciples. This second edition has a preface in which Ernst details the advances in the study of Sufism since the appearnance of this path-breaking book.

Eternal Garden: Mysticism, History, and Politics at a South Asian Sufi Center

History

Ernst, Carl W.

Asia

Oxford University Press

The first full-length study devoted tothe life and mystical experiences of one of the outstanding figures in Persian Sufism.

Ruzbihan Baqli: Mysticism and the Rhetoric of Sainthood in Persian Sufism (Routledge Sufi Series)

Biographies & Memoirs

Routledge

Recipient of the 2004 Bashrahil Prize for Outstanding Cultural Achievement in the Humanities An introduction to Islam, today the faith of more than a billion people, set in the context of world history and of religious studies. Carl Ernst brings together Islamic religious thought and lived experience to examine traditional spirituality and the contentious issues confronting Muslims today. His approach is balanced - both sympathetic and critical. Besides providing a guide to the fundamental aspects of Islam - its sacred sources, ethical systems and spiritual practices - the author encourages the reader to reflect on these topics. This compact introduction appeals to all those who want to understand both the historical aspects of Islam as well as the place of Islam in the contemporary world.

Rethinking Islam in the Contemporary World

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

Edinburgh University Press

Reveals the mystical teachings and practices of the Chishti Sufi order as taught by the ecstatic Shaykh Burhan al-Din Gharib (d. 1337) and his disciples. Ernst’s research, based on rare Persian manuscripts preserved in Sufi shrines in the medieval town of Khuldabad, a major center of pilgrimage in the Indian Deccan, reveals the mystical teachings and practices of the Chishti Sufi order as taught by the ecstatic Shaykh Burhan al-Din Gharib (d. 1337) and his disciples. The book clarifies the diverse historiographical approaches found in an array of narratives. It redefines major topics in the often emotionally charged study of religion and history in South Asia, and it raises provocative theses on much-argued topics such as the basis of Islamic political power in South Asia and the alleged roles of Sufis as warriors and missionaries.

Eternal Garden: Mysticism, History, and Politics at a South Asian Sufi Center (SUNY Series in Muslim Spirituality in South Asia)

Religion & Spirituality

Islam

State University of New York Press

Avoiding the traps of sensational political exposes and specialized scholarly Orientalism, Carl Ernst introduces readers to the profound spiritual resources of Islam while clarifying diversity and debate within the tradition. Framing his argument in terms of religious studies, Ernst describes how Protestant definitions of religion and anti-Muslim prejudice have affected views of Islam in Europe and America. He also covers the contemporary importance of Islam in both its traditional settings and its new locations and provides a context for understanding extremist movements like fundamentalism. He concludes with an overview of critical debates on important contemporary issues such as gender and veiling, state politics, and science and religion.

Following Muhammad: Rethinking Islam in the Contemporary World (Islamic Civilization and Muslim Networks)

Christian Books & Bibles

The University of North Carolina Press

How to Read the Qur'an, a compact introduction and reader's guide to the Qur'an, featuring illuminating new translations of 725 Qur'anic verses, is the most up-to-date toolbox for anyone who wants to know how to approach, read, and understand the text of the Qur'an. Noting that many people are baffled by existing English translations, Ernst aims for the book to be useful for both non-Muslim and Muslim readers who are interested in a historical, literary, and religious studies approach to understanding the Qur'an. The book is designed for general readers and will also be eminently suitable for introductory college courses, advanced secondary courses, As Ernst says, a text like the Qur'an--which has such immense importance for Muslims, and which, given the geopolitical tensions in today's world, poses extraordinary problems for non-Muslims--cannot be treated as a clearly defined subject that can be explained simplistically. Its history, composition, structure, style, vocabulary, a

How to Read the Qur'an: A New Guide, With Select Translations

Middle East

Following Muhammad: Rethinking Islam in the Contemporary World

Book is in very good condition. Hardcover, 1985 edition, State University of New York Press, First Edition (ISBN 0873959175). No writing or highlighting. Kindly send us a message if you have any questions or special requests to see more photos. Note: Ships from Turkey. Expedited shipping available.

Words of Ecstasy in Sufism (Suny Series in Islamic Spirituality)

State Univ of New York Pr

This is the first in-depth study in English of the import and impact of ecstatic utterances (shathiyat) in classical Islamic mysticism. It makes available an important body of mystical aphorisms and reveals not only the significance of these sayings in the Sufi tradition, but also explains their controversial impact on Islamic law and society. This study descrives the development and interpretation of shathiyat in classical Sufism and analyzes the principal themes and rhetorical styles of these sayings, using as a basis the authoritative Commentary on Ecstatic Sayings by Ruzbihan Baqli of Shiraz. The special topic of mystical faith and infidelity receives particular emphasis as a type of ecstatic expression that self-reflectively meditates on the inadequacy of language to describe mystical experience. The social impact of ecstatic sayings is clarified by an analysis of the political causes of Sufi heresy trials (Nuri, Hallaj, and ‘Ayn al-Qudat) and the later elaboration of Sufi martyrologies. This study also examines the attitudes of Islamic legal scholars toward shathiyat, and concludes with a comparison of Sufi ecstatic expressions with other types of inspired speech.

Words of Ecstasy in Sufism

Language Notes 
Text: English (translation) 
 Original Language: Arabic 
 Review 
In The Unveiling Of Secrets: Diary Of A Sufi Master records intimate visions in which Ruzbihan Baqli saw God appear to him in human form, in overpowering manifestations of divine qualities. Ruzbihan portrays his spiritual encounters with the prophets, the angels, and the great Sufi saints with poetic descriptions of his inner life, displaying the elemental mystical experiences which form the basis for Sufi descriptions of the spiritual path. Ably translated by Carl W. Ernst, The Unveiling Of Secrets is a visionary introduction into the mystical experience of a Sufi master. -- 
Midwest Book Review

The Unveiling of Secrets: Diary of a Sufi Master

Baqli, Ruzbihan

Parvardigar Pr

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Books by Ernst, Carl W.