Seven Doors to Islam: Spirituality and the Religious Life of MuslimsSeven Doors to Islam reveals the religious worldview and spiritual tradition of the world's one billion Muslims. Spanning the breadth of Islamic civilization from Morocco to Indonesia, this book demonstrates how Muslims have used the literary and visual arts in all their richness and diversity to communicate religious values. Each of the seven chapters opens a "door" that leads progressively closer to the very heart of Islam, from the foundational revelation in the Qur'an to the transcendent experience of the Sufi mystics. However, unlike most studies of Islam, which see spirituality as the concern of a minority of mystical seekers, Seven Doors demonstrates its central role in every aspect of the Islamic tradition. |
Contents
THREE | 1 |
Tile niche Kashan Iran early fourteenth century | 19 |
Niche mosque of Ibn Tulun Cairo 1094 Fatimid | 29 |
Brass pen box Egypt or Syria thirteenth century | 31 |
Wooden Quran stand Turkestan 1360 | 32 |
Dua Boy calendar poster India 1994 | 34 |
Mihrab and minbar Sultan Hasan madrasa Cairo 13561363 Mamluk | 45 |
Prayer rug India early seventeenth century Mughal | 49 |
Processional models of tombs of Shii martyrs Rawalpindi Pakistan 1980s | 71 |
Muhammad on minbar in mosque painting from Qisas alanbiya by Nishapuri Turkey late sixteenth century | 74 |
FOUR | 101 |
Adam and Eve driven from Paradise from Fal nama Iran c 1550 | 102 |
Jesus raising Lazarus from Qisas alanbiya by Nishapuri Turkey sixteenth century | 103 |
Concourse of the birds from Mantiq attayr by Attar text written by Sultan Ali Mashhadi Herat 1483 painting added early seventeenth century | 107 |
West facade of Sulaymaniye Mosque 15501557 Istanbul | 133 |
Court of the Lions the Alhambra Granada Spain mid | 135 |
Mosque lamp Syria c 1350 Mamluk | 50 |
Devotion beyond Duty | 52 |
Zayn alAbidin at Kaba Silsilat adhdhahab by Jami Iran 15491550 | 53 |
Funeral bier awaiting burial outside Sulaymaniye Mosque Istanbul 21 November 1988 | 59 |
Tomb of Jalal adDin Rumi Konya Turkey thirteenth century Saljuqid | 68 |
Other editions - View all
Seven Doors to Islam: Spirituality and the Religious Life of Muslims John Renard Limited preview - 2023 |
Seven Doors to Islam: Spirituality and the Religious Life of Muslims John Renard Limited preview - 2023 |
Seven Doors to Islam: Spirituality and the Religious Life of Muslims John Renard No preview available - 1996 |
Common terms and phrases
Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani ad-Din adab Ahmad allusion Arabic architecture artists aspects authority beauty beloved called calligraphy century chapter classic context dervish describes devotion dhikr discourse distinction divine dome example experience faith Figure function genre Ghazali God's Hadith heart holy human Husayn Ibid Ibn Arabi imagery images imams important individual interpretation Iran Islamic spirituality Islamic tradition Jihad Joseph journey Ka'ba khanqah knowledge literary literature Lord madrasa Mamluk material meaning Mecca metaphor Mevlevi mihrab mosque Mughal Muhammad Muslims mystical narrative Ottoman painting path pedagogical Persian person pilgrimage poem poet poetry popular practice Press Prophet qasida Qur'an R. A. Nicholson Razi recitation refers religious revelation ritual prayer Rumi sacred salat says scripture seeker sermon shaykh Shi'i soul sources spiritual guide story structure Sufi Sufism Sultan symbolic term theme tion tomb trans University various visual waqf wisdom words zawiya Zulaykha