Books published by The Islamic Texts Society

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya on Divine Wisdom and the Problem of Evil is a translation of selections from two of Ibn Qayyim's booksKey to the Blissful Abode and Remedy for Those who Question on Matters Concerning Divine Decree, Predestination, Wisdom and Causality.

This work is a profound analysis of the most urgent concerns and questions facing us at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Touching on religion and the application of religion to society, Gai Eaton illustrates the subtle harmony of a religious perspective and its ability to transform both the individual and society.

A best-selling introduction to contemporary Islam. The author is concerned not simply with Islam in isolation, but with the very nature of religious faith, its spiritual and intellectual foundations and the light it casts upon the mysteries and paradoxes of the human condition.

The Sufi commentary on the Qur''an by ''Abd al-Razzaq al-Kashani (Ta''wilat al-Qur''an)¿long believed to have been written by Muhyi al-Din Ibn ''Arabi (d. 1240)¿is one of the masterpieces of Sufi exegesis. It is a complete commentary on the Qur''an, commenting on every chapter but not on every verse. A Sufi Commentary on the Qur''an is the first translation into English of this seminal work. Though little is known about the life of ''Abd al-Razzaq al-Kashani (d. between 1329-35), it is accepted that he studied under Mu''ayyid al-Din al-Jandi, who himself had studied with Sadr al-Din Qunawi, the stepson of Ibn ''Arabi and leading exponent of Akbarian doctrine. Despite the paucity of information on his life, Kashani is recognised for the significant contribution he made to the school of Ibn ''Arabi; his influence and legacy lie in his systemisation of the ideas and thoughts of Ibn ''Arabi. The central theme of Kashani''s commen­tary on the Qur''an is gnosis or direct experiential knowledge of God: the seeker of the Divine is to engage in dedicated spiritual exertion in conformity with the Sacred Law until the heart becomes illu­minated.The Ta''wilat al-Qur''an has been translated in two volumes: Volume I includes the commentary from the first Chapter, The Opening (al-Fatiha), until the eighteenth Chapter, The Cave (al-Kahf); while Volume II includes the commentary from Chapter nineteen, Mary (Maryam), to the end of the Qur''an.

The hadith qudsi are the sayings of the Prophet divinely communicated to him. The present collection has been compiled from all the available books of hadith. The forty chosen here are all well authenticated and present many of the doctrinal, devotional and ethical elements of Islam. A scholarly introduction deals fully with the subject and shows the way in which the hadith qudsi differs from the Qur''an and from the Prophetic hadith.This selection and translation has been made by the translators of An-Nawawi''s Forty Hadith. Forty Hadith Qudsi is regarded as a companion volume and has been printed in similar format with the original Arabic text given alongside the English translation.

This in-depth study presents a detailed analysis and critique of the classic Western work on the origins of Islamic law, Schacht''s Origins of Muhammadan Jurisprudence. Azami''s work examines the sources used by Schacht to develop his thesis on the relation of Islamic law to the Qur''an, and exposes fundamental flaws in Schacht''s methodology that led to the conclusions unsupported by the texts examined. This book is an important contribution to Islamic legal studies from an Islamic perspective.

The vibrant tradition of West African Arabic poetry is dominated by the genre of madih, that is, poetry in praise of the Prophet Muhammad. This genre of poetry has been mostly ignored in Western scholarship and dismissed as mere ''pious praise'' lacking any significant intellectual content. In Poetry in Praise of Prophetic Perfection, Dr Oludamimi Ogunnaike challenges the misconceptions around West African madih poetry and addresses the scope and depth of this genre; he not only explores its rich lyrical nature and its foundations in the Qur''an, Hadith, pre-Islamic and early Islamic poetry, but also its inextricable link to Sufism and Sufi doctrines of cosmology, ontology and epistemology. Drawing on Sufi traditions and practices, the author expounds on the various ways in which West African madih poetry both describes and facilitates the ultimate fulfilment of the human potential, the Perfect Human (al-Insan al-Kamil) or the attainment of the Praiseworthy Station (al-Maqam al-Mahmud) of which the Prophet Muhammad is the highest example.Poetry in Praise of Prophetic Perfection includes translations of numerous extracts from madih poetry (accompanied by the original Arabic); while the Appendix presents a selection of complete poems-the most popular and influential poems of this tradition. Poetry in Praise of Prophetic Perfection is an opportunity for readers to gain access and appreciation of a unique genre of spiritual Islamic poetry, and, given that it includes the original Arabic, also enables the recitation of the poetry for devotional purposes.

Love in the Holy Qur''an is the first work to discuss all aspects of love from the perspective of the Holy Qur''an. The author treats in a simple and accessible style, with reader-friendly and teaching-friendly features, not only of love of God and love of the neighbour, but also of family love; friendship; the stages of falling in love; sexual love; extra-marital love; beauty; taste and much more¿all based entirely on the Holy Qur''an. At least one verse from every chapter¿and over one fifth of the total text of the Holy Qur''an¿is cited. Love in the Holy Qur''an is written and structured both to be read in its totality or as individual ''stand-alone'' chapters to be sampled at will. This work is thus essential reading not only for Muslims and those interested in Islam and the Holy Qur''an, but for all those interested in the secrets and mysteries of love as such. This new edition contains a number of expanded discussions on love and mercy and suggests other types of love not mentioned in previous editions.

This is a concise introduction to the life and thought of Ibn 'Arabi who is considered as the 'Greatest of Sufi Masters'. The author gives us a comprehensive insight into the major doctrines of this influential Sufi master and traces his influence on the course of Sufism and the controversies that still surround him.

"Nasir al-Din Tusi: A Philosopher for All Seasons" explores the life and work of the mediaeval Persian polymath Nasir al-Din Tusi (d. 1274) within the historical and religious contexts in which he was active during the course of his eventful life.

This is the first ever translation into English of a treatise written by one of the most celebrated figures in the history of Sufism, the Egyptian Sufi master Ibn Ata Allah al-Iskandari. In Pure Intention: on Knowledge of the Unique Name (al-Qasd al-Mujarrad fi Ma''rifat al-Ism al-Mufrad) the author presents us with a supreme essay on the doctrine of Divine Oneness or tawhid and the Unique Name Allah which is the Name of the Divine Essence.The treatise itself is divided into two parts. In Part One, Ibn Ata Allah discusses the Name Allah from three perspectives: that of language, that of wisdom and that of gnosis; here, he also explains the differences between the Divine Names, Qualities and the Name Allah. With Part Two, the author turns to the role of invocation, both in general and of the Name Allah specifically. Ibn Ata Allah gives detailed arguments for how emulating the Qualities of God as expressed in His Names and invoking His Supreme Name with awareness of its meaning, can cleanse the heart and fill it with tawhid until it becomes a worthy abode for God. As the sacred tradition says: ''Neither My Throne nor My Footstool can contain Me, but the heart of My servant can.''