In our day when there is much strife between factions, this work illuminates the theme of transcendence as understood by the saints of the religious traditions: Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity.

Paths to Transcendence: According to Shankara, Ibn Arabi & Meister Eckhart (Spiritual Masters)

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Shah-Kazemi, Reza

Psychology & Counseling

World Wisdom

In 1932, the eminent British scholar of Islam, Sir Hamilton Gibb, wrote: ""The nobility and broad tolerance of this religion [Islam], which accepted all the real religions of the world as God-inspired, will always be a glorious heritage for mankind. No other society has such a record of success in uniting, in an equality of status, of opportunity, and of endeavor, so many and so various races of humanity."" (Whither Islam?)Such scholarly objectivity towards the tolerance which has historically characterized the Islamic tradition as a whole is in short supply these days. Through an insidious symbiosis of fanatical Muslims and prejudiced Islamophobes, the very opposite image of Islam has emerged as one of the most dangerous stereotypes of our times. The most cursory glance at history will not only reveal the falsity of this stereotype of an intolerant Islam, it will also reveal the little known fact that, not so long ago, it was the Islamic world that provided models of tolerant conduct for a fanatically intolerant Christian world tearing itself apart over dogmatic differences.The first part of this monograph examines the historical record of tolerance in the Islamic tradition, illustrating the expression of the principle of tolerance through the rule of such dynasties as the Ottomans, Mughals, Fatimids, and the Umayyads of Spain. In the second, the principle of tolerance is shown to be rooted in the spirit of the Qur'anic revelation and embodied in the exemplary conduct of the Prophet.

The Spirit of Tolerance in Islam (I.I.S Occasional Papers)

History

Shah-Kazemi, Reze

Middle East

I. B. Tauris In Association With The Institute Of Ismaili Studies

Ali b. Abi Talib--son-in-law and cousin of the prophet Muhammad, first Shi'i imam and fourth caliph--is a monumental figure within the Islamic tradition. This book is the first serious engagement in English with the intellectual principles underpinning his teachings. The book focuses particularly on the spiritual and ethical content of his teachings and evaluates Ali's "sacred conception of justice," while exploring the intimate connections between Ali's teachings and later Sufi doctrines.

Justice and Remembrance: Introducing the Spirituality of Imam Ali

Asia

Ali b. Abi Talib, son-in-law and cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, first Shi'i imam and fourth caliph, is a monumental figure within the Islamic tradition. But despite the immense importance of Imam Ali, there is a dearth of literature in Western languages about his life and thought. This book - the first serious engagement in English with the intellectual principles underpinning his teachings - is therefore a welcome and valuable addition to the sources available. It consists of three parts. Part one introduces the person of Ali in a general manner, and focuses particularly on the spiritual and ethical content of his teachings. Part two evaluates Ali's 'sacred conception of justice'. Part three addresses the theme of spiritual realization through the remembrance of God, the central mystical practice of the Sufis. "Justice and Remembrance" will be of great value to students and scholars of Islamic thought, as well as to those interested in the relationship between spirituality and ethics.

Religion & Spirituality

Islam

I.B.Tauris

The Qur'an is the sacramental foundation of prayer in Islam. Its inspirational power is perpetually renewed through being recited and meditated upon by Muslims on a daily basis throughout their lives. This succinct monograph provides a unique contemporary insight into the spiritual, intellectual and moral dynamics set in motion by the short Qur'anic chapters recited in their prayers by Muslims of all traditions, but which are particularly recommended within Shi'i Islam. Dr Shah-Kazemi engages creatively with the chapters of the Qur'an, including the 'Opening' (al-Fatiha) chapter, basing his own philosophical reflections on the teachings of Imam 'Ali. He focuses in particular on the relationship between the moral and the mystical aspects of the texts. The result is a stimulating philosophical meditation probing the depths of meaning comprised within the verses of a Revelation by which the spiritual quest of Muslims has constantly been inspired, nourished and fulfilled.

Spiritual Quest: Reflections on Quranic Prayer According to the Teachings of Imam Ali (I.I.S Occasional Papers)

This wide-ranging, comprehensive overview of the main theological and jurisprudential tenets of Shi'i Islam deals with such issues as the nature of being and the problem of evil. The range of themes covered, its precise style, and the means by which traditional Shi'i beliefs and practices are substantiated render this book both informative and original. It offers a valuable insight into mainstream ideological thinking within the official religious establishment in Iran today.

Doctrines of Shi`i Islam: A Compendium of Imami Beliefs and Practices

Politics & Social Sciences

Sobhani, Ayatollah Jafar

Philosophy

Forging a interfaith dialog between traditions that typically stand at odds, this groundbreaking book explores the scriptural and spiritual tenets of Islam and Buddhism in relation to one another, creating a basis for comparison and analysis of the two traditions. Written by eminent scholars, this discussion juxtaposes foundational principles and practices by linking underlining principles and fostering a mutual appreciation between followers of both religions. This interfaith volume discusses metaphysical traditions and philosophical studies born of Islam and Buddhism, places them in context with each other, thus encouraging understanding, and providing a point of reference for continued learning and cooperation.

Common Ground Between Islam and Buddhism: Spiritual and Ethical Affinities

Kamali, Prof. Mohammad Hashim

Hanson, Hamza Yusuf

Muhammad, H. R. H. Prince Ghazi bin

H.H. the Fourteenth Dalai Lama

Religious Studies

Fons Vitae

The Other in the Light of the One: The Universality of the Qur'an and Interfaith Dialogue

Based on a profound study of Sufi spiritual teachers that includes Ibn al-Arabi, Rumi, and Ghazali, this book attempts to answer questions about the place of the Qur'an in the world today, such as Does the Qur'an promote peace and harmony or discord and conflict? Does it contribute to pluralism or exclusivism? and Is its message spiritual or fanatical? As an invitation to study the universality that is undoubtedly present in the Qur'an, the book's aim is to relate some of the most profound interpretations of the Qur'an to philosophical and spiritual questions concerning interfaith dialogue. Rather than merely reproducing the ideas of the Sufis, it builds upon principles, takes advantage of insights, and applies them creatively to contemporary conditions, illustrating how a universalist perspective based on Sufi hermeneutics provides a third path between liberal pluralism and conservative exclusivism.

Islamic Texts Society

Based on a profound study of Sufi spiritual teachers that includes Ibn al-Arabi, Rumi, and Ghazali, this book attempts to answer questions about the place of the Qur'an in the world today, such as Does the Qur'an promote peace and harmony or discord and conflict? Does it contribute to pluralism or exclusivism? and Is its message spiritual or fanatical? As an invitation to study the universality that is undoubtedly present in the Qur'an, the book's aim is to relate some of the most profound interpretations of the Qur'an to philosophical and spiritual questions concerning interfaith dialogue. Rather than merely reproducing the ideas of the Sufis, it builds upon principles, takes advantage of insights, and applies them creatively to contemporary conditions, illustrating how a universalist perspective based on Sufi hermeneutics provides a third path between liberal pluralism and conservative exclusivism.

The life of 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, fourth caliph of early Islam and fountainhead of Shi'ite and Sufi lineages, 'is both inspirational and controversial: intrinsically inspirational and extrinsically controversial.' These words set the tone for what is an detailed and penetrating view of the figure of Imam 'Ali on various planes, the spiritual and ethical, the individual, the political and social. The author draws a unique portrait in which the powerful spiritual undercurrents of early Islamic history can be discerned at play, and where the sanctified heart of the Imam is revealed as a fulcrum of the harmony between the most diverse and even divergent tendencies. 
These spiritual reflections on the life and thought of Imam 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, bring to life what is essential and inspirational in his biography. 'Ali is viewed as the paragon of statesmanship, chivalry and mysticism, a man of action and contemplation, the greatest hero of his age as well as its wisest sage. The interplay between his dramatic outward story and his profound inner story heralds the triumph of the human spirit over the difficulties, tragedies and absurdities which are inevitable in 'the life of this world.' 
This exceptional book may be too Shia for some Sunnis, and too Sunni for some Shia, and it may be too political for some, and too spiritual for others, and so its main value lies precisely in a higher perspective where it reveals harmony, in a keen vision of the forces of tawhid, the drive to union, alive at the centre of historical events as in human hearts. It will have a cathartic effect upon the many, Sunnis and Shia alike, who wish to see 'Ali as a fountainhead of unity in Islam, not as a source of division. It makes accessible to both Muslims and non-Muslims the treasures of loving mercy flowing from 'Ali, a global paragon of initiatic wisdom.

Imam 'Ali From Concise History to Timeless Mystery

Matheson Trust

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Shah-Kazemi, Reza. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Shah-Kazemi, Reza

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Shah-Kazemi, Reza. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Paths to Transcendence: According to Shankara, Ibn Arabi & Meister Eckhart (Spiritual Masters)

The Spirit of Tolerance in Islam (I.I.S Occasional Papers)

Justice and Remembrance: Introducing the Spirituality of Imam Ali

Justice and Remembrance: Introducing the Spirituality of Imam Ali

Spiritual Quest: Reflections on Quranic Prayer According to the Teachings of Imam Ali (I.I.S Occasional Papers)

Doctrines of Shi`i Islam: A Compendium of Imami Beliefs and Practices

Common Ground Between Islam and Buddhism: Spiritual and Ethical Affinities

The Other in the Light of the One: The Universality of the Qur'an and Interfaith Dialogue

The Other in the Light of the One: The Universality of the Qur'an and Interfaith Dialogue

Imam 'Ali From Concise History to Timeless Mystery