Sufism

A Global History

Green, Nile

Blackwell Brief Histories of Religion

1. Edition February 2012
286 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd

ISBN: 978-1-4051-5761-2

John Wiley & Sons

Sample Chapter

Short Description

Sufism: A Global History is a unique account of global Sufism, tracing the gradual spread and adaptation of Sufi Islam through the Middle East into Central Asia, India, Southeast Asia, Africa, and in the 20th century Europe and America. The book goes beyond the description of doctrine and places Sufism in its social, cultural and historical context. Engagingly and lucidly written, Sufism: A Global History represents the first worldwide account of the history of Sufism, showing how it shaped societies and cultures in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and ultimately Europe and the United States.

Further versions

Since their beginnings in the ninth century, the shrines, brotherhoods and doctrines of the Sufis held vast influence in almost every corner of the Muslim world. Offering the first truly global account of the history of Sufism, this illuminating book traces the gradual spread and influence of Sufi Islam through the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and ultimately into Europe and the United States.
* An ideal introduction to Sufism, requiring no background knowledge of Islamic history or thought
* Offers the first history of Sufism as a global phenomenon, exploring its movement and adaptation from the Middle East, through Asia and Africa, to Europe and the United States of America
* Covers the entire historical period of Sufism, from its ninth century origins to the end of the twentieth century
* Devotes equal coverage to the political, cultural, and social dimensions of Sufism as it does to its theology and ritual
* Dismantles the stereotypes of Sufis as otherworldly 'mystics', by anchoring Sufi Muslims in the real lives of their communities
* Features the most up-to-date research on Sufism available

Introduction
Chapter 1. Origins, Foundations, and Rivalries (850-1100)
Chapter 2. An Islam of Saints and Brothers (1100-1400)
Chapter 3. Empires, Frontiers and Renewers (1400-1800)
Chapter 4. From Colonization to Globalization (1800-2000)
Glossary: A Sufi Lexicon of Arabic Terms
Suggestions for Further Reading

Nile Green is professor of South Asian and Islamic history at UCLA. He has travelled and researched widely throughout the Islamic world, and has published extensively on Islamic history and Sufism.

N. Green, University of California, Los Angeles, USA