Walaya in the Formative Period of Shi'ism and Sufism: A Comparative Analysis

This book explores the concept of "walāya" in the formative period of Islam, focusing on Shiism and Sufism. It offers a textual and comparative analysis of "walāya" based on primary sources from both Shii and Sufi circles, highlighting the doctrinal aspects of "walāya" and its development after the death of the Prophet. It is a valuable resource for students and scholars of Shii and Sufi studies and Islamic philosophy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 188 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate development of the concept of walāya, a multifaceted term that has evolved over time to encompass a wide range of relationships with other theological ideas, particularly in relation to authority. Drawing from primary sources from both Shii and Sufi circles dating back to the ninth and tenth centuries, the author conducts a textual and comparative analysis of walāya. The book begins with one of the oldest surviving Shii sources, Kitāb Sulaym, and also examines key texts from Shii and Sufi circles, including al-Īḍāḥ of Faḍl Shādhān al-Nishābūrī, Kitāb al-Maḥāsin of al-Barqī, and Kitāb al-Kāfī of al-Kulaynī. Three major texts in Sufism are also considered: Kitāb al-Ṣidq by Abū Saʿīd al-Kharrāz, Tafsīr al-Qurʾ an al-ʿAẓīm by Sahl al-Tustarī, and Al-Tirmidhīs Kitāb Sīrat al-Awliyāʾ. Through a meticulous examination of these sources, the author highlights the doctrinal aspects of walāya, exploring the identity, function, appointment, and description of those considered walī.

In conclusion, this book offers a valuable contribution to the study of Shii and Sufi studies and Islamic philosophy. It provides a comprehensive exploration of the concept of walāya, shedding light on its historical development and its complex relationships with other theological ideas. By examining a range of primary sources from both Shii and Sufi circles, the author offers a rich and nuanced understanding of this important term. This book is essential reading for students and scholars interested in these fields and is sure to deepen their understanding of Islamic thought and its historical context.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032432496