Companionship and Virtue in Classical Sufism

The Contribution of al-Sulami

Jason Welle, Jason Welle

$59.99

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

I.B. Tauris
24 July 2025

Middle Eastern history; Islamic & Arabic philosophy; Sufism & Islamic mysticism

Al-Sulami (d. 412/1021) was an influential classical Sufi master whose works espoused companionship as a way for believers to experience God’s guidance and cultivate religious virtues. This book provides a historical reconstruction of Sufi companionship in Khurasan in the period, arguing that al-Sulami's concept of suhba (companionship) envisioned the transformation of society as whole, not just the master-disciple relationship. Bringing debates in contemporary virtue ethics to bear on al-Sulami's spiritual method, the book offers an original analysis of the latter’s thought that will be of interest to scholars of early Islam and classical Sufism as well as moral theologians interested in virtue ethics, character and friendship.

By: Jason Welle, Jason Welle
Imprint: I.B. Tauris
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN: 9780755652310
ISBN 10: 0755652312
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 24 July 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Jason Welle is Assistant Professor of Comparative Theology at Boston College, USA. He holds a Ph.D. in Theological and Religious Studies from Georgetown University, USA.

Reviews for Companionship and Virtue in Classical Sufism: The Contribution of al-Sulami

"""Welle's careful analysis of al-Sulami brings the study of Sufi virtue ethics to new heights. His treatment of the primary sources is masterful and informed, drawing from a nuanced understanding of MacIntyre's philosophical framework. This is a major contribution to the study of Sufism, adab literature, and Islamic ethics."" --Cyrus Ali Zargar, Professor, University of Central Florida ""Al-Sulami was a towering Sufi author of his own period and beyond. Welle cracks open new dimensions of this prominent and prolific Sufi's thought by bringing in insights from Alasdair MacIntyre to bear on al-Sulami's treatise on companionship - a major contribution to our understanding of this key figure."" --Ahmet T. Karamustafa, Professor, University of Maryland, USA"