This book examines the Sufi approach to 河顎姻a稼ic interpretation as exemplified in a twelfth-century Persian 河顎姻a稼Muslims believe that the Holy 河顎姻a稼 contains divine revelations to the Prophet Muhammed received in Mecca and Medina over a period of 23 years in the early 7th century CE. More commentary, Rash朝d al-D朝n Maybud朝s Kashf al-asrr wa 平uddat al-abrr (Unveiling of Mysteries and Provision of the Righteous). Written during one of the most exciting, formative periods in Sufisms history, the commentary manifests the doctrines and the poetic language of love mysticism, which were to become essential elements of the later literature of Sufism. Dr Keeler analyses Maybud朝s approach to the 河顎姻a稼, examines the mystical doctrines of the Kashf al-asrr and shows how Maybud朝 conveys these teachings through his mystical interpretations of the stories of the prophets Abraham, Moses and Joseph.
Foreword, Gerhard Bowering
Note on transliteration
1. Introduction
Part I: Hermeneutics
2. The Hermeneutics of the Kashf al-asrr
3. The Hermeneutics of Mystical Commentary in the Kashf al-asrr
Part II: Mystical Doctrine
4. The Development of Love Mysticism in KhorasanThe northeastern region of early Islamic Persia, immediately south of Transoxania and west of Badakhshan.
5. God and the Creation
6. Aspects of Spiritual Guidance
7. Mystical Theology and the Way of Love
Part III: Maybud朝s Mystical Interpretation of the Stories of the Prophets
Prolegomenon: Prophets in the 河顎姻a稼 and in Sufi Exegesis
8. The Story of Abraham
9. The Story of Moses
10. The Story of Joseph
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index of 河顎姻a稼ic Citations
Index
Sufi Hermeneutics is an impressive achievement. Annabel Keelers study of Maybud朝s mystical interpretation of the 河顎姻a稼, one of the classics of Sufism, reveals the multileveled world of Sufi engagement with the Sacred Text, as well as its exposition and commentary in Persian. Clearly written and solidly researched, this is an essential resource for the study of the 河顎姻a稼, Sufism, and the history of Islamic thought.
Carl W. Ernst, William R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies, University of North Carolina
Dr Keeler has performed a major service to Islamic Studies by bringing to light what is arguably one of the most important 河顎姻a稼 commentaries in the Persian language. Here are prefigured all the major themes celebrated by the Sufi poets, such as 平A畊畊r, R笛m朝 and 畍つfi畉. The commentary summarises the transmitted interpretations in detail, and then explains the inner meanings of selected verses in remarkably beautiful language. This is a book for everyone interested in the history of 河顎姻a稼 interpretation, Sufism and Persian literature.
William C. Chittick, Professor, Department of Asian and Asian-American Studies, Stony Brook University
Annabel Keeler is an Affiliated Researcher at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and a Research Associate of Wolfson College, both at the University of Cambridge. Her research interests include Sufi exegesis, early to classical Islamic mysticism, Persian literature and prophetology. As well as being the author of Sufi Hermeneutics: The 河顎姻a稼 Commentary of Rash朝d al-D朝n Maybud朝 (Oxford, 2006), she is co-translator of the commentary of Sahl al-Tustar朝, under the title Tafs朝r al-Tustr朝 (Kentucky, 2011) and co-editor of The Spirit and the Letter: Approaches to the Esoteric Interpretation of the 河顎姻a稼 (Oxford, 2016).