This book is the first extensive examination of the medieval Qur'an commentary known as the Latā'if al-Ishārāt and the first critical biography of its author, the Sufi spiritual master Abū'l-Qasim al-Qushayrī.

Subtle Allusions (Latāif al-ishārāt) is a line-by-line Arabic Qurānic commentary by the scholar and Sufi master Abū l-Qāsim al-Qushayrī (d.465/1074), who was also the author of the influential and widely read handbook on Sufism known as the Risāla. Qushayrī believed, like other Sufis, that the Qurān has layers upon layers of meaning, and that the attempt to reduce these layers to definitive interpretations demonstrates the limitations of the intellect rather than fidelity to the text. He suggested instead that the meaning of the Qurān is something to be discovered on an ongoing basis by individuals who are deeply engaged in reflection and other spiritual practices. Qushayrī demonstrates this kind of interpretation in the Latāif with his own and other Sufis' comments and meditations on the entire Qurān, not just the passages that would seem to be particularly conducive to a more interiorized or mystical reading. The commentary is noteworthy for its literary quality. Although Qushayrī sometimes writes as the religious scholar he was, he also uses poetry, metaphors, and word play to make his points. It is a literary form of exegesis that is learned, flexible and elegant. The translation here is based on the Arabic printed edition of the Latāif edited by Ibrāhīm Basyūnī, with reference to two additional manuscript sources. Part I includes Qushayrī's extensive commentary on sūras 1 through 4.

Sufism is a religion which emphasizes direct knowledge of the divine within each person, and meditation, music, song, and dance are seen as crucial spiritual strides toward attaining unity with God. Sufi paths of mysticism and devotion, motivated by Islamic ideals, are still chosen by men and women in countries from Morocco to China, and there are nearly one hundred orders around the world, eighty of which are present and thriving in the United States. The Chishti Sufi order has been the most widespread and popular of all Sufi traditions since the twelfth-century. Sufi Martyrs of Love offers a critical perspective on Western attitudes towards Islam and Sufism, clarifying its contemporary importance, both in the West and in traditional Sufi homelands. Finally, it provides access to the voices of Sufi authorities, through the translation of texts being offered in English for the first time.

A compilation of Sufi beliefs and manners, this enlightening guide thoroughly explains Sufi thought and tradition. Filled with aphorisms and moral sayings collected by mystic Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami from more than five generations of thinkers, this account seeks to correct the misleading interpretations of Islamic theology. The process of achieving an intimate relationship with God through virtuous conduct is explored in an informative and engaging manner. A glossary of Sufi vocabulary and an introduction to al-Sulami--placing the dervish in his historical, literary, and religious context--are included for the spiritual novice.

Hope has long been a topic of interest for psychologists, philosophers, educators, and physicians. In the past few decades, researchers from various disciplines and from around the world have studied how hope relates to superior academic performance, improved outcomes in the workplace, and improved psychological and physical health in individuals of all ages. Edited by Matthew W. Gallagher and the late Shane J. Lopez, The Oxford Handbook of Hope provides readers with a thorough and comprehensive update on the past 25 years of hope research while simultaneously providing an outline of what leading hope researchers believe the future of this line of research to be. In this extraordinary volume, Gallagher, Lopez, and their expert team of contributors discuss such topics as how best to define hope, how hope is distinguished from related philosophical and psychological constructs, what the current best practices are for measuring and quantifying hope, interventions and strategies for promoting hope across a variety of settings, the impact it has on physical and mental health, and the ways in which hope promotes positive functioning. Throughout its pages, these experts review what is currently known about hope and identify the topics and questions that will help guide the next decade of research ahead.