Divine Love: Islamic Literature and the Path to God

Description

The very heart of the Islamic tradition is love; no other word adequately captures the quest for transformation that lies at this tradition’s center. So argues esteemed professor of medieval Islam William C. Chittick in this survey of the extensive Arabic and Persian literature on topics ranging from the Qur’an up through the twelfth century. Bringing to light extensive foundational Persian sources never before presented, Chittick draws on more than a thousand pages of newly translated material to depict the rich prose literature at the center of Islamic thought. CONTENTS FOREWORD PREFACE ABBREVIATIONS A NOTE ON FORMAT Part One. THE ORIGIN OF LOVE 1 THE THEOLOGICAL CONTEXT 2 THE STORY OF LOVE 3 SPIRITUAL PSYCHOLOGY Part Two. THE LIFE OF LOVE 4 THE SEARCH 5 THE PATH 6 THE STATES OF THE TRAVELERS Part Three. THE GOAL OF LOVE 7 THE REALITY OF LOVE 8 THE SUFFERING OF LOVE 9 THE REALIZATION OF TAWḤĪD NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX OF QUR’ANIC VERSES INDEX OF HADITHS AND SAYINGS INDEX OF NAMES AND TERMS