FACT OR FICTION?: THE IMAGES OF THE SUFI AUTHORS IN 10TH-12TH CENTURY
FACT OR FICTION?: THE IMAGES OF THE SUFI AUTHORS IN 10TH-12TH CENTURY

Author(s): Tonaga Yasushi
Subject(s): Cultural history, Islam studies, 6th to 12th Centuries
Published by: Naučnoistraživački institut »Ibn Sina«
Keywords: Awliya’; Tabaqat Al-Sufiya; Risala Qushayriya; Tadhkira al-Awliya’; Mamluk period; Kalam; Sufism; theology of the Ash’arites;
Summary/Abstract: In this paper the author discusses Sufi authors in the period from 10thto 12th centuries. He considers that this period in the history of Sufi literature is a turning point in history of Islamic spiritual culture, a period of change and a time of the ‘’authorization’’ of Sufism. In this aspect,he mentions Sufi chronicles that were crucial for the mentioned period,such as: Al-Saraj’s Kitab al-Luma’, Kalabadi’s Al-Ta’arruf li-madhab al-Tasawwuf, Al-Makki’s Qut al-Qulub, Al-Hujwiri’s Kashf al-Mahjub, etc. These and some other works that were not mentioned, written as Sufi chronicles,are considered by the author as the fundamental literature of Sufi literature of the mentioned period. The author then compares the authors of the mentioned Sufi chronicles with biographies written about them in the Mamluk period. He especially points out biography under the title Tabaqatal-Awliya’ al-Kubra by ‘Abd al-Wahhab al-Sha’rani.

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