The development of early Islamic mysticism and metaphysics is presented through the life and work of theologian Abu Bakr al-Wasiti.

Traces the story of the celebrated late-eighth and early ninth-century caliph from "The Thousand and One Nights" against a backdrop of Baghdad's cosmopolitan culture and its complex influence on the Byzantine Empire and Frankish kingdom of Charlemagne.

We know the current political narrative: Iran is dangerous, full of terrorists and weapons of mass destruction. But Christopher Thornton here tells a different story: one of good food, liberal-minded people, beautiful architecture, and a country with a history spanning over seven thousand years that's been influenced not only by the myriad cultures spanning Central Asia but also by Europe and the West. Descendants of Cyrus introduces readers to ordinary Iranians living lives far different from what is shown on Western television. Thornton takes us through the cities of Iran, where he encounters robust, barely hidden black markets filled with American movies and music; sees the women of Shiraz explore modern fashion and beauty products with no fear of reprisal from a weakened regime; and meets the students populating the university town of Hamadan, where a generation of activists is finding its voice. Thornton draws from the past and present alike on each stop of this fascinating travelogue, using history to inform his conversations with citizens from all walks of life. Unexpected variety comes to light, embodying surprising religious and ethnic diversity, intellectual curiosity, a thirst for Western culture, and the desire to live a modern, secular life. A firsthand look at one of the least understood and yet most politically significant countries on earth, Descendants of Cyrus taps into the hidden pulse of a culture and a generation that promises to reshape Iran in a way few Westerners can anticipate.

Written by local experts, Fodor's travel guides have been offering advice and professionally vetted recommendations for all tastes and budgets for 80 years. Fodor’s correspondents highlight the best African safari destinations in both eastern and southern Africa. Travelers will be able to determine which African safari destination is best for them and plan their trip step by step starting months before departure up to the day of arrival. We cover the best local and international safari tour operators with information on how to create a dream safari, whether it's a luxury, bespoke experience, or a rustic in-the-bush excursion. Plus, Fodor's reveals the best beaches for must-needed post-safari relaxation. More in-depth planning information is given for popular gorilla treks in Rwanda and Uganda. This travel guide includes: •UP-TO-DATE COVERAGE: New recommendations include the best new safari camps and tour operators •ILLUSTRATED FEATURES: Special full-color "Fodor's Features" throughout the guide provide rich information on the Big Five, the Great Migration, the Dunes of Namibia, and African culture. Gorgeous photos throughout, many by Fodor's travelers, provide endless inspiration. •INDISPENSABLE TRIP PLANNING TOOLS: Travelers can discover details about animals and birds, including the Big Five, with checklists for each country. Fodor's offers a hierarchy of safari parks in each country, with detailed lodging options, and compare tour operators with an easy-to-read chart broken down by experience, expertise, and clientele. Internet resources, a planning timeline, packing lists, must-ask questions, and information on what to expect after arrival are provided in easy-to-use, compact features. •DISCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS: Fodor's The Complete Guide to African Safaris offers well-informed advice and recommendations from expert and local writers to help travelers make the most of their time. Fodor's Choice designates our best picks, from hotels to nightlife. •COVERS: South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, Victoria Falls, South African Wine Country, Zanzibar, Kruger National Park, Skeleton Coast, Victoria Falls, Okavango Delta, Serengeti National Park, and Mount Kilimanjaro

This volume of Princeton Readings in Religions brings together the work of more than thirty scholars of Islam and Muslim societies in South Asia to create a rich anthology of primary texts that contributes to a new appreciation of the lived religious and cultural experiences of the world's largest population of Muslims. The thirty-four selections--translated from Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Bengali, Tamil, Gujarati, Hindavi, Dakhani, and other languages--highlight a wide variety of genres, many rarely found in standard accounts of Islamic practice, from oral narratives to elite guidance manuals, from devotional songs to secular judicial decisions arbitrating Islamic law, and from political posters to a discussion among college women affiliated with an "Islamist" organization. Drawn from premodern texts, modern pamphlets, government and organizational archives, new media, and contemporary fieldwork, the selections reflect the rich diversity of Islamic belief and practice in South Asia. Each reading is introduced with a brief contextual note from its scholar-translator, and Barbara Metcalf introduces the whole volume with a substantial historical overview.

The Rough Guide to Istanbul is the perfect introduction to a vibrant mega-city, fast-becoming as popular for its nightlife and arts scene as it is for its unique historical heritage. All the major Byzantine and Ottoman sites, plus a myriad of lesser-known gems, are easily tracked down using clear, comprehensive maps. Whether you wish to watch the faithful at prayer in the iconic Blue Mosque, admire the glittering- gold mosaics in the Church of the Holy Wisdom, relax in an historic Turkish bath, cruise up the continent-dividing Bosphorus or dance the night away in an über-cool club, you can find out where and how in The Rough Guide to Istanbul. Evocative photographs of the city's highlights complement the text and two full-colour sections introduce the fascinating world of Ottoman Turkish architecture and the culinary delights of the Turkish kitchen. There are up-to-date descriptions of the city's best bars, cafes, clubs, hotels, restaurants and shops for all budgets, and a detailed section on 'out of town' trips including the legendary city of Troy and the former-Ottoman capitals of Bursa and Edirne.

Sufism is generally perceived as being spiritually focused and about the development of the self. However, Sufi orders have been involved historically as important civic and political actors in the Muslim world, having participated extensively in inter-faith dialogue and political challenges to religious orthodoxy. This book presents a comprehensive overview of the Sufi political tradition, both historically and in its present form. It outlines how Sufi thought has developed, examines how Sufism has been presented both by scholars and by Sufis themselves, and considers Sufis’ active political roles. It argues that Sufis – frequently well educated, well travelled and imaginative – have been well placed to engage with other faiths and absorb their ideas into Islam; but that they have also been, because they understand other faiths, well placed to understand the distinctiveness of Islam, and thereby act as the guardians of Islam’s core ideas and values.