Lahore University of Management Sciences

HIST 237: Classical Sufism

Spring 2011
Instructor: Aurangzeb Haneef
Email: aurangzeb.haneef@lums.edu.pk

Brief Description
Tasawwuf, which is generally translated as Islamic Mysticism or Sufism, denotes
various notions for various people in today’s world. For some, it stands for a certain kind of
music and poetry; for some, it signifies a set of specific activities related to a Sufi shrine;
while for some, it represents a form of spiritual practice. On the one hand people conceive
of it as a more tolerant and peaceful version of Islam; while on the other, it represents a
practice that is considered un-Islamic. For many, it is simply a mysterious and secret path
that often inspires awe and admiration. However, very few people actually understand
Sufism with all its subtleties and characteristics beyond the most obvious.
Through this course we aim to explore the phenomenon of Sufism in the Classical
Islamic Period (from 8th C.E. to the 13th C.E. approx.). The course looks at the foundations
of Sufism, the sources upon which it is considered to be based, the lives and works of early
Sufis, the main practices, themes, and doctrines developed during its formative period, and
the systemization of Sufism.
While investigating the life and works of several key figures such as As-Sadiq (d.
765), Rabia Basri (d. 801), al-Junayd (d. 910), al-Hujwiri (d. 1077), al-Ghazali (d. 1111), and
Ibn al-Arabi (d. 1240) among others, we will discuss some of the central concepts in Sufism
including annihilation (fana), love (mahabba), knowledge (‘ilm), gnosis (ma‘rifa), intellect (‘aql),
reality (haqiqah), and unity (tawhid). Students will also be introduced to Sufi poetry from
Arabic and Persian languages including that of Rumi (d. 1273). Substantial attention will be
given to the intellectual aspects of Sufism and its varied conceptions of the worldly and
divine knowledge.

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 This is not a course in social history of Sufism. Therefore, the social, political and
historical context will not be discussed too much in detail. Only a brief introduction to such
will be provided to the students in order to situate the Sufi and his/her writings in the
Islamic history. This can perhaps be described most closely as a course on the doctrinal
history of Sufism in the early Islamic period.

Learning Objectives
The students will be able to formulate what is Sufism in a profound manner. Apart
from the usual and simplistic narrative around the topics of karamaat1 and shrines, the
students will not only be able to acquire a deep understanding of some of its most important
practices and characteristics, but will also be able to express Sufism in its proper language.
The readings will highlight the ethical and moral aspects of Islamic spirituality with
sufficient philosophical underpinnings which will foster nuanced thinking in various aspects
of our human-ness. For instance, the conceptions of nafs (ego/soul/self) and related Jihad al-
nafs (struggle against one’s self/ego/soul) by various Sufis help us to conceptualize the
human with all its weaknesses as well as its ability to overcome such weaknesses.
Thus, besides learning about an important trend in the Islamic religious tradition,
students will also have the necessary concepts and tools for meaningful self-reflection, which
is a central Sufi practice.

Course Readings and Methodology

An important aspect of the course is that the students will get a chance to read and
reflect upon some of the primary sources, i.e., original Sufi writings, translated into the
English language. These will be complemented by secondary works and commentaries by
respected scholars in the field of Islamic Spirituality in order to help the students with the
primary material. The course will apply a mixture of lectures and class discussions on the
assigned material. Often, students will be asked to make presentations on a Sufi figure
highlighting his/her main ideas.

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Karamaat: loosely translated as Sufi miracles.

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 Enrollment Limit
The enrollment for this class is limited to 35 students.

Course Requirements and Grading Instruments

Students are expected to attend all sessions on time. Three consecutive absences or
late appearances may result in a penalty except in the case of emergencies. Overall class
attendance should not be less than 80%. It is imperative that materials assigned for a class
should be read before coming to that class otherwise the lectures and class discussions will
not be beneficial.

Attendance and Class Participation 10%

1 page Summaries of Reading materials (any 10 out of 14 sessions) 20%
Class presentation 15%
Short Reflections Papers (2 @ 12.5%) 25%
Take-home Final exam 30%

Tentative Course Outline

The course is divided into fourteen weeks (or 28 class sessions). A tentative outline is as
follows, which consists of required and recommended readings.

Section A: Sources and Early Development of Sufism

1. Introductory Week
i. Introduction to the course
1. No assigned readings
ii. Introduction to Sufism
1. Chittick, William: Sufism: A Beginner’s Guide, pp. 1-36
2. Nasr, S. Hossein: The Garden of Truth, pp. 3-25
Recommended
3. Sells, Michael: Early Islamic Mysticism, pp. 11-26

2. Basic Sufi Terminology

i. Armstrong, Amatullah: Al-Qamus Al-Sufi (Sufi Terminology), Selections
ii. Al-Qushayri: “Interpreting Mystical Expressions from the Treatise”, in Sells, Michael:
Early Islamic Mysticism, pp. 97-150

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3. Foundational Sources: Qur’an and Hadith; Prophet Muhammad as a Model
i. Sells, Michael: Early Islamic Mysticism, pp. 29-56
ii. Schimmel, Annemarie: Mystical Dimensions of Islam, pp. 213-227
iii. As-Sarraj, Abu-Nasr: Kitab al-Luma` (The Book of Flashes), in Renard, John: Knowledge of
God in Classical Sufism, pp. 65-78
iv. Brohi, Allahbakhsh: “The Spiritual Significance of the Qur’an,” in Nasr, S. Hossein
(ed.): Islamic Spirituality: Foundations, pp. 11-23
Recommended
v. Lings, Martin: What is Sufism?, pp. 25-44
vi. Ernst, Carl: The Shambhala Guide to Sufism, pp. 32-57

4. Esoteric Interpretation of the Qur’an

i. At-Tustari, Sahl: Interpretation of the Majestic Qur’an, in Sells, Michael: Early Islamic
Mysticism, pp. 89-96
ii. Buchman, David: “Translator’s Introduction” to Al-Ghazali, Abu Hamid: Mishkat al-
Anwar (The Niche of Light), pp. xvii-xxxv
iii. Habil, Abdurrahman: “Traditional Esoteric Commentaries on the Qur’an,” in Nasr,
S. Hossein (ed.): Islamic Spirituality: Foundations, pp. 24-47
Recommended
iv. As-Sadiq, Ja`far: Qur’anic Commentary, in Sells, Michael: Early Islamic Mysticism, pp. 75-
89

5. Sufism in Formation
i. Nasr, S. Hossein: The Garden of Truth, pp. 163-184
ii. Al-Hujwiri, Ali bin Uthman: Kashf al-Mahjub, tr. Nicholson, Reynold A., pp. 30-44
iii. Al-Kalabadhi, Abu Bakr: Kitab al-Ta`arruf li-madhhab ahl al-Tasawwuf (The Doctrine of the
Sufis), tr. Arberry, A. J., pp. 5-14
Recommended
iv. Al-Hujwiri, Ali bin Uthman: Kashf al-Mahjub, tr. Nicholson, Reynold A., pp. 70-82
v. Schimmel, Annemarie: Mystical Dimensions of Islam, pp. 23-41
vi. Trimingham, J. Spencer: The Sufi Orders in Islam, pp. 1-30

Section B: Pioneering and Women Sufis

6. Pioneering Figures in Classical Sufism
i. Abdel Kader, Ali Hassan: The Life, Personality, and Writings of al-Junayd, pp. 1-52
ii. Schimmel, Annemarie: Mystical Dimensions of Islam, pp. 42-77
Recommended
iii. Al-Hujwiri, Ali bin Uthman: Kashf al-Mahjub, tr. Nicholson, Reynold A., pp. 83-171
(selections)

7. Earliest Women Sufis

i. As-Sulami, Abu `Abd ar-Rahman: Dhikr an-Niswa al-Muta’abbidat as-Sufiyyat (Early Sufi
Women), tr. Cornell, Rkia Elaroui, pp. 15-20; 54-70

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 ii. ‘Attar, Fariduddin: “Rabi`a: Her Words and Life” from ‘Attar’s Memorial of the Friends
of God, in Sells, Michael: Early Islamic Mysticism, 151-170
iii. Schimmel, Annemarie: Mystical Dimensions of Islam, pp. 426-435
Recommended
iv. As-Sulami, Abu `Abd ar-Rahman: Dhikr an-Niswa al-Muta’abbidat as-Sufiyyat (Early Sufi
Women), tr. Cornell, Rkia Elaroui, pp. 72-98

Section C: Main Themes in Classical Sufism

8. Sufi Doctrines and Terminology I

tawba (repentance), taqwa (God-consciousness), zuhd (asceticism/renunciation), wara`

(moral scrupulousness), adab (model behavior), sabr (patience), tawakkul (trust in God),
faqr (poverty), shukr (gratitude)

i. As-Sarraj, Abu-Nasr: “The Seven Stations” from Kitab al-Luma` (The Book of Flashes),
in Sells, Michael: Early Islamic Mysticism, pp. 196-211
ii. Al-Kalabadhi, Abu Bakr: Kitab al-Ta`arruf li-madhhab ahl al-Tasawwuf (The Doctrine of the
Sufis), tr. Arberry, A. J., pp. 82-93
iii. Al-Hujwiri, Ali bin Uthman: Kashf al-Mahjub, tr. Nicholson, Reynold A., pp. 19-29;
294-297
iv. Schimmel, Annemarie: Mystical Dimensions of Islam, pp. 109-130
Recommended
v. Al-Qushayri: Al-Risala al-Qushayriyya (Epistle on Sufism), tr. Knysh, Alexander,
selections.

9. Sufi Doctrines and Terminology II

dhikr (remembrance), du`a (supplication), sidq (truthfulness), ikhlas (sincerity), mahabba

(love), wilaya (sainthood), fana (annihilation), baqa (subsistence), tawhid (unity)

i. Al-Kalabadhi, Abu Bakr: Kitab at-Ta`arruf li-madhhab ahl al-Tasawwuf (The Doctrine of the
Sufis), tr. Arberry, A. J., pp. 95-107; 120-132; 135-137
ii. Al-Qushayri: “Interpreting Mystical Expressions from the Treatise”, in Sells, Michael:
Early Islamic Mysticism, pp. 119-121
iii. Al-Junayd, Abu l-Qasim: “On the Affirmation of Unity (Tawhid)” in Sells, Michael:
Early Islamic Mysticism, pp. 251-265
iv. Schimmel, Annemarie: Mystical Dimensions of Islam, pp. 130-148; 167-178
Recommended
v. Ernst, Carl: The Shambhala Guide to Sufism, pp. 81-119
vi. Schimmel, Annemarie: Mystical Dimensions of Islam, pp. 155-167

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10. Sufi Doctrines and Terminology III

nafs (soul/ego/self), tadhkiyat al-nafs (purification of the soul)

i. As-Sulami: Jawami’ Adab al-Sufiyya and Uyub al-Nafs wa-Mudawatuha by Abu ‘Abd al-
Rahman al-Sulami, tr. Kohlberg, Etan: selections
ii. Al-Ghazali, Abu Hamid: “On Disciplining the Soul (Kitab Riyadat al-nafs)” in Winter,
T. J.: Ihya Ulum al-din: selections
iii. Al-Muhasibi, al-Harith in Sells, Michael: selections
iv. Al-Qushayri: selections
v. Al-Hujwiri: selections
vi. Radtke, Bernd and John O’Kane: The Concept of Sainthood in Early Islamic Mysticism: Two
Works by Al-Hakim Al-Tirmidhi: selections
vii. Renard, John (1988): “Al-Jihad al-akbar: Notes on a Theme in Islamic Spirituality” in
The Muslim World, Vol. 78, No. 3-4, pp. 225-242.

11. Sufi Knowledge System I

`ilm (knowledge), ma`rifa (gnosis), yaqin (certainty), haqiqa (truth)

i. Renard, John: Knowledge of God in Classical Sufism, pp. 11-60

ii. Al-Makki, Abu Talib: “Kitab al-`Ilm (The Book of Knowledge)” from Qut al-Qulub
(The Sustenance of Hearts), in Renard, John: Knowledge of God in Classical Sufism, pp. 112-
146
iii. `Abd Allah Ansari: Sad Maydan: Manazil as-Sa’irin (The Hundred Fields: Resting Places of
Wayfarers), in Renard, John: Knowledge of God in Classical Sufism, pp. 294-297
Recommended
iv. Al-Kalabadhi, Abu Bakr: Kitab at-Ta`arruf (The Exploration of Sufi Teachings), in Renard,
John: Knowledge of God in Classical Sufism, pp. 100-111
v. Al-Hujwiri, Ali bin Uthman: Kashf al-Mahjub, in Renard, John: Knowledge of God in
Classical Sufism, pp. 264-285

12. Sufi Knowledge System II

sadr (breast), qalb (heart), `aql (reason)

i. Al-Ghazali, Abu Hamid: “Kitab Sharh `Aja’ib al-Qalb (Elaboration of the Marvels of
the Heart)” from Ihya’ `ulum ad-Din (The Revitalization of the Religious Disciplines),
in Renard, John: Knowledge of God in Classical Sufism, pp. 298-326
ii. Al-Tirmidhi, Hakim: A Treatise on the Heart, tr. Heer, Nicholas in Three Early Sufi
Texts, selections
iii. Lings, Martin: What is Sufism?, pp. 45-63

13. Other Major Themes

i. Sufi Poetry: Arabic and Persian
1. Ernst, Carl: The Shambhala Guide to Sufism, pp. 147-178

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 Recommended
2. Sells, Michael: Early Islamic Mysticism, pp. 56-74
ii. Theosophical Sufism: Suhrawardy and Ibn al-Arabi
1. Schimmel, Annemarie: Mystical Dimensions of Islam, pp. 259-274
2. Ibn al-Arabi: Selections

Section D: Sufism in the wider Islamic Context

14. Sufism Debated and Contested
i. De Jong and Radtke, B. (eds): Islamic Mysticism Contested, pp. 1-21
ii. Van Ess, Joseph: “Sufism and its Opponents” in De Jong and Radtke, B. (eds):
Islamic Mysticism Contested, pp. 22-44
iii. Bowering, G.: “Early Sufism between Persecution and Heresy” in De Jong and
Radtke, B. (eds): Islamic Mysticism Contested, pp. 45-67
Recommended
iv. Shah-Kazemi, Reza: The Other in the Light of the One, pp. 1-73

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Multimedia
1. Sufi Discourse on the Prophet’s ascension to heavens:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO2T2kOLScE

2. Rumi poetry and recital

3. Ibn al-Arabi

Bibliography

1. Abdel Kader, Ali Hasan (1962): The Life, Personality and Writings of Al-Junayd: A Study of a
Third/Ninth Century Mystic, tr. Abdel Kader, Ali Hassan, London, Luzac & Co., Ltd.
2. Al-Ghazali, Abu Hamid Muhammad (1995): “On Disciplining the Soul (Kitab Riyadat al-
nafs)” in Winter, T. J.: Ihya Ulum al-din, Cambridge, The Islamic Texts Society.
3. Al-Ghazali, Abu Hamid (1998): Mishkat al-Anwar (The Niche of Light), tr. David Buchman,
Provo, Brigham Young University Press.
4. Al-Hujwiri, Ali bin Uthman (2002): Kashf al-Mahjub, tr. Nicholson, Reynold A., Lahore,
Zaki Enterprises.
5. Al-Kalabadhi, Abu Bakr (2001): Kitab at-Ta`arruf li-madhhab ahl al-Tasawwuf (The Doctrine of
the Sufis), tr. Arberry, A. J., Lahore, Suhail Academy Lahore.

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6. Al-Qushayri (2007): Al-Risala al-Qushayriyya (Al-Qushayri’s Epistle on Sufism), tr. Knysh,
Alexander, Garnet Publishing.
7. As-Sulami, Abu `Abd ar-Rahman (2005): Dhikr an-Niswa al-Muta’abbidat as-Sufiyyat (Early
Sufi Women), tr. Cornell, Rkia Elaroui, Lahore, Suhail Academy.
8. Chittick, William (2000): Sufism, A Short Introduction, Boston, Oneworld.
9. De Jong, Frederick and Radtke, Bernd. (eds) (1999): Islamic Mysticism Contested: Thirteen
Centuries of Controversies and Polemics, Brill.
10. Ernst, Carl (1997): The Shambhala Guide to Sufism, Boston and London, Shambhala.
11. Heer, Nicholas (1992): Three Early Sufi Texts: A Treatise on the Heart, Stations of the Righteous,
The Stumblings of those Aspiring, Fons Vitae.
12. Kohlberg, Etan (ed.) (1976): Jawami’ Adab al-Sufiyya and Uyub al-Nafs wa-Mudawatuha by
Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami (d. 412 H.), Jerusalem, Jerusalem Academic Press.
13. Lings, Martin (1988): What is Sufism?, London, George Allen and Unwin.
14. Nasr, Seyyed Hossein (2007): The Garden of Truth: The Vision and Promise of Sufism, Islam’s
Mystical Tradition, New York, Harper Collins.
15. Nasr, Seyyed Hossein (ed.) (1997): Islamic Spirituality: Foundations, New York, Crossroad.
16. Radtke, Bernd and John O’Kane (1996): The Concept of Sainthood in Early Islamic Mysticism:
Two Works by Al-Hakim Al-Tirmidhi, Surrey, Curzon Press.
17. Renard, John (2004): Knowledge of God in Classical Sufism: Foundations of Islamic Mystical
Theology, New York, Paulist Press.
18. Schimmel, Annemarie (1975): Mystical Dimensions of Islam, Chapel Hill, UNC.
19. Sells, Michael (1996): Early Islamic Mysticism, New York, Paulist Press.
20. Shah-Kazemi, Reza (2006): The Other in the Light of the One: The Universality of the Qur’an and
Interfaith Dialogue, Cambridge, Islamic Texts Society.
21. Smith, Margaret (1983): Rabia: the Mystic & her Fellow-Saints in Islam, Lahore, Hijra
International Publishers.
22. Trimingham, J. Spencer (1971): The Sufi Orders in Islam, Oxford, Oxford University Press.