Traditional Muslim Philosophy and Sufism

Paper Summary:

This paper studies the religious, political and epistemological factors underlying the development of Islamic mysticism, or Sufism. The paper compares and contrasts traditional Sunnism with Sufism, and asks how they each relate to the Kalam, or the divine word. The author also looks at the teachings of Al-Ghazali, a Sunni philosopher and Sufi mystic. The paper concludes by exploring the virtual demise of Sufism and questioning whether there is still a place for mysticism today in an increasingly orthodox Islam.
What are the Main Tenets of Each
Metaphysics and Physics and Muslim Philosophy
A Comparison of Sunni and Sufi Beliefs and Practices
Why Did Muslim Philosophy Ultimately Fade into the Background of Islamic Thought and Practice, and Did It Have Any Permanent Effect on the Development of Sufism?
Can Sufism be Reconciled with Orthodox Sunni Theology and Law?

From the Paper:

"The whole of Muslim life turned around the Qur'an. Revealed to Muhammad by God between 610 and 632 from an eternal codex (the Preserved Tablet), according to Muslim doctrine, the Qur'an embodies the full range of principles and precepts by which the believer should order his life. The Qur'an is supplemented, however, by a mass of utterances attributed to Muhammad and constituting, together with circumstantial reports of the actions and decisions of the Prophet, the general body of Muhammadan Traditions, properly designated in Muslim usage as the Prophetic "Way" (al-Sunnah)."

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