A comprehensive introduction to the life and thought of one of the Islamic intellectual tradition's most original and profound authors.
Inrushes of the Heart delves deeply into the life and thought of 'Ayn al-Quḍāt Hamadānī (d. 525/1131), a major Muslim philosopher, Sufi master, and religious judge who was executed by the Seljuq government at the age of thirty-four. Mohammed Rustom presents nearly eight hundred passages in translation (most of which appear here for the first time in English) from 'Ayn al-Quḍāt's Arabic and Persian writings alongside a step-by-step commentary that outlines every major theme that guides his worldview. Contextualizing 'Ayn al-Quḍāt's life, influence, and self-perception as a teacher and scholar extraordinaire, the book then carefully unpacks his highly original teachings on God, cosmology, human agency, spiritual practice, imagination, death, knowledge, scripture, beauty, and love.
By:
Mohammed Rustom
Imprint: State University of New York Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 229mm,
Width: 152mm,
Spine: 25mm
Weight: 807g
ISBN: 9781438494296
ISBN 10: 1438494297
Series: SUNY series in Islam
Pages: 400
Publication Date: 01 September 2023
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Detailed List of Figures Acknowledgments Preface Format and Style Sourcing Hadiths and Sayings Abbreviations Introduction: A Sage in Exile Life Execution Writings Reception The Present Book 1. Autobiography Discovery Helplessness Tasting Charismatic Gifts Apparitions Muhammadan Encounters 2. Counsel and Confession Advice and Admonition Criticism Sandal-Service Two Defenses Divine Jealousy 3. Heavenly Matters The Essence Rational Proof Witness Divine Names and Attributes Oneness of Existence Levels of Light The Goal of Creation 4. Earthly Concerns Good and Evil Cosmic Well-Being Against Dualism Bad Transmitters Compulsion and Freedom Guidance and Misguidance 5. Inside Out, Outside In Intention and Sincerity Assent Purity and Prayer Fasting Pilgrimage and Alms Tax Praise and Gratitude Imaginalization Death before Death 6. Wayfarers and Masters Habit-Worship Body and Soul The Heart The Spirit Wayfaring and Seeking Renunciation The Ripened Master 7. Knowledge Transcendent Brothers and Mirrors Knowers and Recognizers The Scale of the Intellect Beyond the Intellect Self-Recognition Self-Perception 8. Quranic Origins Paradise Found Vastness and Worthiness Knowing and Hearing The Imprint of Letters Letters and Dots Dots, Nothingness, Subsistence 9. Muhammad and Iblis Periphery to Center Muhammadan Light The Black Light of Iblis Face, Mole, Tresses Faith and Unbelief Two Commands An Ideal Lover 10. Love Transcendent Love as Guide Love and Loverhood Trial and Tribulation Madness and Burning The Religion of Love Levels of Unbelief Self-Love In the I of the Beholder Notes Bibliography Works by ʿAyn al-Quḍāt (Editions, Manuscripts, Translations) Works Misattributed to ʿAyn al-Quḍāt Scholarship on ʿAyn al-Quḍāt Cited or Consulted Other Primary Sources Other Secondary Sources Indexes Index of Translated Texts Index of Quranic Passages Index of Hadiths, Proverbs, and Sayings Index of Names and Terms
Mohammed Rustom is Professor of Islamic Thought at Carleton University and Director of the Carleton Centre for the Study of Islam. He is the author of the award-winning book The Triumph of Mercy: Philosophy and Scripture in Mullā Ṣadrā, also published by SUNY Press.
Reviews for Inrushes of the Heart: The Sufi Philosophy of ʿAyn al-Quḍāt
"""I am delighted that Mohammed Rustom has written this much-needed book which finally does justice to the teachings of 'Ayn al-Quḍāt, one of the most original and inspiring authors during a period that bore witness to a great flowering of Sufi teachings wedded to philosophical and theological acumen."" — William C. Chittick, Distinguished Professor, Stony Brook University ""In the fields of Islamic philosophy, mysticism, and theology, there is nothing remotely like this book, in any language, and it should therefore remain a standard reference and teaching resource for decades to come."" — James Winston Morris, Professor Emeritus, Boston College ""Bringing to light the full spectrum of 'Ayn al-Quḍāt's bold and creative writings for the first time in modern scholarship, Inrushes of the Heart shows with blinding clarity why 'Ayn al-Quḍāt is to be seen as one of the most luminous stars in the night sky of Islamic spirituality and intellectuality."" — Omid Safi, Professor of Islamic Studies, Duke University ""The lucid translations and painstaking historical research on display in Inrushes of the Heart can serve as a model for scholars of religion and philosophy in general, and Islamic thought in particular. This definitive book on one of pre-modern Islam's most significant thinkers will be an indispensable resource for students and researchers for decades to come."" — Cyrus Ali Zargar, Al-Ghazali Distinguished Professor of Islamic Studies, University of Central Florida ""'Ayn al-Quḍāt's scintillating spiritual prose is brought to life in this brilliant anthology by Mohammed Rustom. Rustom's impeccable historical and philological scholarship creates a conductor for 'Ayn al-Quḍāt's lightning-like flashes of insight on the nature of reality, humanity, intellect, ethics, and revelation. Inrushes of the Heart is a veritable defibrillator, shocking our spiritual hearts back to life."" — Oludamini Ogunnaike, University of Virginia"