| Sufism, Mystics, and Saints in Modern Egypt Contributor(s): Hoffman, Valerie J. (Author) |
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ISBN: 157003849X ISBN-13: 9781570038495 Publisher: University of South Carolina Press OUR PRICE: $31.34 Product Type: Paperback Published: March 2009 Annotation: For centuries Sufism-Islamic mysticism-held a major place in Islamic spirituality, intellectual life, and popular religion. While many scholars have commented on Sufism's decline, few have delved deeply into present-day Egyptian Sufism or considered it as a system in its own right. Drawing on her detailed fieldwork and a variety of little known literary sources, Valerie J. Hoffman presents Sufism as it exists in Egypt today, in the vivid experiences of its adherents. With an array of conclusions that overturn widely held beliefs about modern Sufis, Hoffman argues that the apparent assimilation of Egyptian Sufism masks a thriving movement hidden from the Western world. From her experiences as a quasi disciple of a Sufi master, she offers new insights into the movement's evolution, the vital role of women in Sufism, and Sufi perspectives on gender and sexuality. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Religion | Islam - Sufi - Religion | Comparative Religion - History | Middle East - Egypt (see Also Ancient - Egypt) |
| Dewey: 297.409 |
| LCCN: 95004373 |
| Physical Information: 1.09" H x 6" W x 9" (1.56 lbs) 488 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - Middle East - Religious Orientation - Islamic |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: For centuries Sufism--Islamic mysticism--held a major place in Islamic spirituality, intellectual life, and popular religion. While many scholars have commented on Sufism's decline, few have delved deeply into present-day Egyptian Sufism or considered it as a system in its own right. Drawing on her detailed fieldwork and a variety of little known literary sources, Valerie J. Hoffman presents Sufism as it exists in Egypt today, in the vivid experiences of its adherents. With an array of conclusions that overturn widely held beliefs about modern Sufis, Hoffman argues that the apparent assimilation of Egyptian Sufism masks a thriving movement hidden from the Western world. From her experiences as a quasi disciple of a Sufi master, she offers new insights into the movement's evolution, the vital role of women in Sufism, and Sufi perspectives on gender and sexuality. |
Contributor Bio(s): Hoffman, Valerie J.: - Valerie J. Hoffman is an associate professor of religion at the University of Illinois and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. |