This book, a translated work, describes the five pillars of Islam, and best practices for attainment of faith through the practical aspects of worship based on the five pillars of Islam. It isn’t overly complex, and some readers would probably finish cover-to-cover in a single sitting. Great as a reference or teaching book.
This book is written by an established translator of Rumi’s works, and is a good book for understanding more about Sufism and the psychology of Sufism, Islamic spirituality, and important aspects of the Sufi life. Rather personal and full of insights from the Quran and the writing of Rumi, this book is great for beginners who wish an introduction to Sufism.
A story of the Mulla Nasrudin:
The Town Gossip: “Nasrudin, I just saw some men delivering a huge tub of stew.”
Nasrudin: “What’s it to me?”
The Town Gossip: “They were taking it to your house.”
Nasrudin: “What’s it to you?”
Read about the exploits and wisdom of the Mulla Nasrudin, reknown Sufi philosopher of the Seljuk era. Great as anecdotes and for teaching.
The 14th-Century Persian poet Hafiz has had his works translated and enjoyed for centuries. This translation, written by a native Iranian, reads very well in English, and is less literal than other translations available. Though only collecting half of Hafiz complete translated works, this book is still an astounding read and is not for the average reader. As with all poetry, metaphors and imagery are abundant in Hafiz poems, and many references that are undoubtedly Persian pepper the book.
This book, written by subject expert Dr. Martin Lings, is a very comprehensive introduction to Sufism, from both historical and practical viewpoints. Dr. Lings’ observations were written at a time prior to his own conversion to Islam, and conveys Sufism as an integral part of the Muslim faith, if not essential. Not meant for light reading, this book delves into the esoteric concepts of Sufism and Islam. It is a great introductory book for non-Muslims to gain an understanding of Islam as a way of life and a means to achieve spiritual bliss; this book is far from the usual depiction of Islam as a religion of rules and regulations. Though not essentially a book focused on health and healing, an understanding of the concepts of Sufism will aid you in your understanding of Islam, Sufism, and the general medical and health practices of the Sufis and Muslims in general.
This book puts forth our timeless protagonist, the Mullah Nasruddin, through stories of the human condition, from our desiring of approval from others, jealousy, sadness and grief, and many other challenging aspects of our lives. The Mullah, ever popular in Sufi folklore, shares with us deeply spiritual insights and sometimes simple practices and reflections one can make in dealing with simple, universal situations that any reader could easily identify with. Simple to understand, deeply thoughtful yet lighthearted at most times, this book usually provides a spiritual exercise at the end of each story that one can perform for better well-being. A great book all-around, it is a great gift for children, the elderly, or anyone facing any form of difficulty in their lives.