عنوان

The remembrance of God in Sufism:

TLpq303569039

عربی

The remembrance of God in Sufism:

[Thesis]

M. A. K. Danner

A translation of Ibn 'Ata' Allah's " Miftah al-Falah wa Misbah al-Arwah" (The Key of Salvation and the Lamp of Souls) translated from the Arabic with an introduction and notes

W. Jwaideh

Indiana University

1988

292

Ph.D.

Indiana University

1988

The Miftah al-Falah wa Misbah al-Arwah is a thirteenth-century work by Shaykh Ibn 'Ata'Allah al-Iskandari (d. 709/1309), a Sufi spiritual master of the Shadhili order of North Africa. The work is unique in that it deals exclusively with the subject of the remembrance of God (dhikru'llah), which is normally part of an oral tradition handed down from master to disciple. Unlike other great works of the past which have addressed the topic in a few pages or a chapter at most, the Miftah al-Falah represents an important and invaluable contribution to the understanding of Sufism in general and the meaning, symbolism, technique, and results of the dhikru'llah in particular. This dissertation begins with an introduction to the life and works of Shaykh Ibn 'Ata'Allah before concentrating on a discussion of the structure and content of the Miftah al-Falah itself. The translation follows the introduction and is based on a master copy made from two manuscripts and a 1961 Cairo edition. The text provides a definition of the dhikru'llah, the purpose and goal of invoking God's name, how to invoke, the requisite conditions for beginning such a technique, why it is recommended, what benefits accrue to the individual, the necessity of a spiritual guide, and so forth. As the author himself states, he wrote the work to facilitate the way for the seeker. Were it not for Shaykh Ibn 'Ata'Allah al-Iskandari the orgins and methods of the Shadhili order might have become shrouded in obsurity and legend. Thanks to him, we have been afforded more than just a passing glimpse into the spiritual life and practices of his day and the rich oral tradition which fostered the development and growth of an authentic religious heritage that is still alive and well today.

Language, literature and linguistics

Middle Eastern literature

M. A. K. Danner

W. Jwaideh

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y