"The works of Islamic mysticism are a crucial genre of Islamic piety, and the lives of the awliya (friends of God) have been and continue to be a crucial way in which the theoretical insights of Sufism are embodied and communicated to a wider audience. Traditionally, these genres would be deciphered by a living Sufi master. Here John Renard acts as our Sufi guide, transporting us to the marvelous world of Islamic piety."—Omid Safi, Professor of Islamic Studies, University of Northern Carolina

Prophets, saints, martyrs, sages, and seers—one of the richest repositories of lore about such exemplary religious figures belongs to the world's approximately 1.3 billion Muslims. Illuminating some of the most delightful tales in world religious literature, this engaging book is the first truly global overview of Islamic hagiography. John Renard tells of the characters beyond the Qur'an and Hadith, whose stories of piety and service to God and humanity have captured hearts and minds for nearly fourteen hundred years. Renard's thematic approach to the major characters, narratives, social and cultural contexts, and theoretical concepts of this remarkable treasury of tales, based on material ranging from the eighth to the twentieth centuries and from countries ranging from Morocco to Malaysia, provides insight into the ways in which these stories have functioned in the lives of Muslims from diverse cultural, social, economic, and political backgrounds. The book also serves as a useful and evocative tool for approaching the vast geographical and chronological sweep of Islamic civilization.

Presents the lives and sayings of some of the most renowned figures in the Islamic Sufi tradition, translated into a contemporary American English from the Persian of the poet Farid al-Din 'Att'r.

Discover the real story--like you've never heard it before! Get ready—you’re about to meet familiar Bible characters in a fresh new way. You’ll discover not just what they did, but how they felt on their journeys to become friends of God. Bible-time friends will jump off the page as you... Stand next to Adam while he stares with wide-eyed wonder at all of God's creation--including Eve! Stride beside David, watching his fear shift into confidence as he reaches into a leather pouch to grab one smooth stone. Wade into the Jordan River with John the Baptist--who keeps peering past the crowd to search for the promised Messiah. Look into the forgiving eyes of Stephen as a furious mob hurls rocks through the air to kill him. 54 first-person accounts immerse you in these faith-building stories--because you'll hear them from the mouths of the real people who lived them. Bonus special augmented reality technology lets you collect, share, and even create digital cards describing these Bible-time friends of God in three easy steps: 1. Download the free app. 2. Scan any icon. 3. Wow! Watch the character's trading card come to life!

Ray Stedman takes us on a rewarding and fascinating journey through the life of Abraham. His unique blend of insightful Bible teaching, delightful storytelling, and conversational style will draw you into the mind of the greatest of all Old Testament heroes. You'll experience each episode of Abraham's life in a new and life-changing way. As Pastor Stedman himself has said, “Each of the incidences in Abraham's life [is] a luminous illustration of some New Testament event or truth.” Rediscover the adventure of faith alongside this remarkable man known as Abraham.

Founder Lucas admonishes Daughters of Destiny to heed the wisdom embedded in a four-word whisper spoken into her left ear by God in 1997. Each reader is encouraged to manifest deliverance from a controlling spirit ' a sure sign of her displeasure with God's Will. As Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Daughters of Destiny International, she imparts this teaching for a purpose ' to equip and teach a generation of divine daughters who honor spiritual leaders to harvest impregnability. All are compelled to mature in the things of God to produce divine fruit in and out of season. The divine mystery pursued in this teaching implores you to couple the life lesson of Anais Nin with the "Litmus Test for Friendship" shared by John C. Maxwell. Her candor will lead you to God. Armed with her deliverance anointing, each word is rooted in a divine mandate to leave you with Christ, your first friend. It will change your divine obedience-life for eternity!