Islamic Spirituality: Theology and Practice for the Modern World
Ebook
Islamic Spirituality: Theology and Practice for the Modern World examines and explores the inner dimension of Islam. The writings of important figures in the historical development of Islamic spirituality are examined, as well as the major sources of religious authority in Islam, the Qur'an and Hadith.
Both classical Sufis and Sufism are explored as well as contemporary mystics. Key figures discussed include medieval Islamic theologian al-Ghazali (d.1111), and Said Nursi (d.1960), arguably one of the most important modern theologians in the Islamic spiritual tradition. Discussing both historical and contemporary dimensions of Islamic spirituality allows the author to ground classical Sufi texts in contemporary ideas and practices. Exploring spirituality in relation to key contemporary issues such as ecology, Zeki Saritoprak demonstrates how, when, and where people can practice Islamic spirituality in the Modern world.
Providing an overview of the intellectual and theological basis of Islamic spirituality, and including the author's own translations of a selection of key texts, this volume is ideal reading for courses exploring Islamic spirituality and mysticism and anyone interested in the spiritual practices of nearly a quarter of the world's population.
Explores the theological, historical, and contemporary dimensions of Islamic spirituality, including translations of key texts.
Provides an overview of contemporary Islamic spirituality which extends beyond "Sufism"
Considering both insider and outsider perspectives, the author draws on contemporary Islamic mystics including Nursi and Al-Ghazali to offer a contemporary Islamic spirituality and theology
Shows how and where Islamic theology and spirituality can converge in the modern world, and how they can be practiced, covering key topics such as the environment and spirituality
Includes translated material from unpublished archival sources in Turkish, Arabic and Persian
Acknowledgements
Note on Transliteration
Introduction
Part One: Theological Foundations
1. Islamic Spirituality, Sufism, and Sainthood
2. The Qur'anic Roots of Islamic Spirituality
3. The Spirituality of the Prophet of Islam
4. Ideas and Concepts
Part Two: Theology and Spirituality
5. al-Ghazali
6. Said Nursi
7. Fethuallah Gulen
Part Three: Practical Aspects
8. Prayer, Asceticism, and Spirituality
9. Ecology and Spirituality
Conclusion
Appendices
Select Bibliography
Index
A welcome, much-needed, and expert contribution toward understanding the actual religious lives of practicing Muslims, their roots in the Qur'an and wider Islamic tradition, and the pervasive if often unappreciated influence of Sufism. The book is strongly recommended to those working in spirituality or teaching an introduction to Islam.
Saritoprak has produced a work that effectively navigates the boundaries of a post-orientalist world and acts as a useful introduction to Islam and spirituality. This text, given its simplistic structure and content, can provide use for almost any reader that is intrigued by Islam, mysticism, and spirituality without the marring of orientalist perspectives that plague most extant works on the subject … The text would serve a reader pursuing leisure but also contains useful information for a beginning student of Islamic spirituality.
Zeki Saritoprak has written a splendid introduction to Islamic spirituality. This book is required reading for those who wish to know more about the religious lives of Muslims, or those who wish a deeper insight into spiritual practices.
The strength of this book is that it brings spirituality into a new light by discussing how it can be practiced in the modern world without the idea of detachment, a traditional Sufi idea.
This is a very intriguing collection of topics on Islamic spirituality, and an excellent addition to the Islamic studies literature.
- Title: Islamic Spirituality: Theology and Practice for the Modern World
- Author: Zeki Saritoprak
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
- Print Publication Date: 2018
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781472572073, 9781472572059, 147257205X, 1472572076
- Resource ID: LLS:9781472572073
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-04-08T23:33:55Z
Zeki Saritoprak is Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies and Director of the Bediuzzaman Said Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies, at John Carroll University, USA. A native of Turkey he has spent more than thirty years studying Islamic theology and mysticism. He is the author of many works on Islam, spirituality, and interfaith dialogue.