The throne carrier of God : the life and thought of ʿAlāʾ ad-Dawla as-Simnānī

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Bibliographic Information

The throne carrier of God : the life and thought of ʿAlāʾ ad-Dawla as-Simnānī

Jamal J. Elias

State University of New York Press, c1995

  • : pbk

Available at  / 6 libraries

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Note

Bibliography: p. [227]-242

Includes indexes

Description and Table of Contents

Description

This book constitutes a comprehensive investigation of the life and teachings of one of the most famous Sufis of the Iranian world. Simnānī spent his early life as a courtier at the Ilkhanid Mongol court and was a cherished companion of the emperor Arghun. After a mystical experience on the battlefield, he turned his back on a life of luxury and became a Sufi. He advanced rapidly in his spiritual quest and soon became one of the most influential Sufi masters in Iran. Working primarily from the most Arabic and Persian manuscripts of Simnānī’s writings, the author has analyzed Simnānī's thinking to show the overall coherence of his world-view and to demonstrate the importance of his ideas to the development of Islamic mysticism. Along with this analysis, the author provides a detailed account of Simnānī's life and times, as well as a systematic description of Simnānī's instructions for Sufi practioners of all levels.

Table of Contents

Illustrations Tables Preface Notes on Transliteration 1. Introduction Primary Sources of the Simnani Tradition The Simnani Tradition m Modem Scholarship Part I 2. The Life and Times of `Ala' ad-dawla as-Simnani Early Life and Conversion to Sufism Conversion Experience Contact with Nur ad-din al-Isfara'ini Life in Simnan 3. Simnani's Masters and Disciples Investiture with Sufi Robes (Khirqas) Associates and Disciples Conclusion Part II 4. The Divine and Its Manifestation The Structure of God and the World Divine Manifestation The Spiritual and Physical Realms Emanation and the Compound Human Being 5. The Spiritual Body and the Mirror of God Composition of the Spiritual Body The Seven Climes of the Spiritual Realm Interior Ascent of the Subtle Substances Preeminence of the Subtle Substance of the"Real" The Subtle Substance of I-ness Conclusion 6. Traveling the Sufi Path Islamic Foundations of the Path Simnani's Understanding of the Qur'an Simnani's Understanding of Prophecy Rules for the Novice Rules for Sufi Practice 7. Seclusion and Recollection The Rules of Recollection The Hierarchy of Visions and Colors Annihilation and Resurrection Conclusion 8. Conclusion Divine Emanation and the Islamic Philosophical Tradition The Four Realms The Concept of Lata'if Simnani's Legacy Appendix A. The Written Works of Simnani Major Works Minor Works Correspondence Works Attributed to Simnani Not Known to be Extant Simnani's Titles Mentioned Only in Mataf al-ashraf Simnani's Commentary on the Qur'an Appendix B. Chronology of Events Glossary of Technical Terms Bibliography Index

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