Table of Contents

Acknowledgements Note on Transliteration Introduction Part One: Theological Foundations 1. Islamic Spirituality, Sufism, and Sainthood 2. The Qur’anic Roots of Islamic Spirituality 3. The Spirituality of the Prophet of Islam 4. Ideas and Concepts Part Two: Theology and Spirituality 5. al-Ghazali 6. Said Nursi 7. Fethuallah Gulen Part Three: Practical Aspects 8. Prayer, Asceticism, and Spirituality 9. Ecology and Spirituality Conclusion Appendices Select Bibliography Index

Promotional Information

Explores the theological, historical, and contemporary dimensions of Islamic spirituality, including translations of key texts.

About the Author

Zeki Saritoprak is Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies and Director of the Bediuzzaman Said Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies, at John Carroll University, USA. A native of Turkey he has spent more than thirty years studying Islamic theology and mysticism. He is the author of many works on Islam, spirituality, and interfaith dialogue.

Reviews

A welcome, much-needed, and expert contribution toward understanding the actual religious lives of practicing Muslims, their roots in the Qur'an and wider Islamic tradition, and the pervasive if often unappreciated influence of Sufism. The book is strongly recommended to those working in spirituality or teaching an introduction to Islam.
*Journal of Ecumenical Studies*

Saritoprak has produced a work that effectively navigates the boundaries of a post-orientalist world and acts as a useful introduction to Islam and spirituality. This text, given its simplistic structure and content, can provide use for almost any reader that is intrigued by Islam, mysticism, and spirituality without the marring of orientalist perspectives that plague most extant works on the subject … The text would serve a reader pursuing leisure but also contains useful information for a beginning student of Islamic spirituality.
*Reading Religion*

Zeki Saritoprak has written a splendid introduction to Islamic spirituality. This book is required reading for those who wish to know more about the religious lives of Muslims, or those who wish a deeper insight into spiritual practices.
*Amir Hussain, Professor of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University, USA*

The strength of this book is that it brings spirituality into a new light by discussing how it can be practiced in the modern world without the idea of detachment, a traditional Sufi idea.
*Usman Ghani, Assistant Professor, American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates*

This is a very intriguing collection of topics on Islamic spirituality, and an excellent addition to the Islamic studies literature.
*Mentor Mustafa, Lecturer, Boston University, USA*