Originally published 1987.This volume is devoted not simply to the historical foundations but the essential foundations as the principle and source off the multiform Manifestations of Islamic spirituality in history and in various Islamic cultural zones.

INTRODUCTION Part One: The Roots of the Islamic Tradition and Spirituality 1 The Quran as the Foundation of Islamic Spirituality 2 The Spiritual Significance of the Quran 3 Traditional Esoteric Commentaries on the Quran 4 The Spiritual Significance of the Substance of the Prophet 5 The Life, Traditions, and Sayings of the Prophet I. The Life of the Prophet II. Sunnah and Hadith 6 The Inner Meaning of the Islamic Rites: Prayer, Pilgrimage, Fasting, Jihad 7 The Spiritual Dimension of Prayer Part Two: Aspects of the Islamic Tradition 8 Sunnism 9 Twelve Imam Shi’ism 10 Ismailism 11 Female Spirituality in Islam Part Three: Sufism: The Inner Dimension of Islam 12 The Nature and Origin of Sufism 13 The Early Development of Sufism 14 The Spiritual Practices of Sufism 15 Sufi Science of the Soul Part Four: Knowledge of Reality 16 God 17 The Angels 18 The Cosmos and the Natural Order 19 Man 20 Eschatology