The Teachings of 3 Sufi Masters

Description

This book attempts to discern a little of the philosophy, teachings and practices of three great luminaries of Islam: Imam Al-Ghazali, Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi and Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi.

Imam Al-Ghazali, Hujatual Islam (the proof of Islam) and his works, especially, Ihya’ ‘Ulum ad-Din (The Revival of the Religious Sciences), are not only still widely read and used as text in madrasas as well as in higher institutions of Islamic studies, but are pored over and studied by non-Muslim academics, as well. Indeed, it is through the ‘Ihya’ the first part of this book draws inspiration from. However, it is no way an exegesis of that great work, which would take volumes to cover in its entirety.

Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi is revered as the greatest of the mystical poets. UNESCO declared in 2007 as the International Rumi Year along with this statement: There is a timelessness and universality to Rumi’s teachings making them relevant in modern world even after a passage of 800 years.

Muhiyiddin Ibn Arabi, known as the Revivifier of Religion and the Shaykh al-Akbar (the Greatest Master), is a mystic, philosopher, poet and sage. He wrote over 350 works including Fusus al-Hikam, an exposition of the inner meaning of the Wisdom of the Prophets, and Futuhat al-Makkiya, a vast encyclopedia of spiritual knowledge which unites and distinguishes the three strands of traditional, reason and mystical insights.

[If the believer understood the meaning of the saying ‘the colour of the water is the colour of the receptacle, he would admit the validity of all beliefs and he would recognise God in every form and every object of faith.

(Ibn ‘Arabi, Fusus al-Hikam)]