Chapter I. Ab'u Sa'id Ibn Abi L Khayr. Introducti : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], p. 1 CHAPTER I AB SAD IBN ABI L-KHAYR Ab Sad and Omar Khayyam are associated in the history of Persian literature by the circumstance that each of them is the reputed author of a famous collection of "rubyyt" in which his...
Chapter Iii. The Odes Of Ibnu L F'ari. Vv. 400 499 : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], p. 233 (400 400) That one (the slanderer) helps the spirit, guiding it to its region for the sake of a contemplation which takes place in a spiritual mould; (401) And this one (the railer) helps the soul, driving it to its...
Chapter Ii. The Perfect Man. Vi. The Return : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], VI. THE RETURN TO THE ESSENCE. The gist of Jl's philosophy, as I understand it, is the notion of One Being, which is One Thought, going forth from itself in all the forms of the universe, knowing itself as Nature and yet, amidst...
Preface : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], p. v PREFACE As was explained in the preface to my "Studies in Islamic Poetry", the following essays conclude a series of five, which fall into two groups and are therefore published in separate volumes. While mysticism, save...
Appendices. Appendix Ii. Some Notes : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], p. 149 APPENDIX II SOME NOTES ON THE FUU L-IKAM 1 I have already referred to the work of Ibnu l-Arab, bearing a title which may be rendered "The Bezels of Divine Wisdom," and have pointed out that its subject-matter coincides...
Chapter Iii. The Odes Of Ibnu L F'ari. Vv. 600 699 : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], (600 600) Such is the soul: if she cast off her desires, her faculties are multiplied and endow every atom with the (entire) activity of the soul. (601 601) Union suffices thee (as an explanation of these miracles); they are not...
Chapter Ii. The Perfect Man. Ii. The Descent : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], p. 94 II. THE DESCENT OF THE ABSOLUTE 1. Pure Being, devoid of qualities and relations, is called by Jl "the dark mist" or "blindness" ("al-Am"), a term which the Prophet is said to have used in answering the question, "Where w...
Chapter I. Ab'u Sa'id Ibn Abi L Khayr. Part Ii : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], p. 48 II. In describing Ab Sad's mystical doctrines and their relation to the historical development of fisim, European scholars have hitherto relied almost exclusively on the quatrains which he is said to have composed...
Chapter Ii. The Perfect Man. Introduction : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], p. 77 CHAPTER II THE PERFECT MAN 1 Man, is not he Creation's last appeal, The light of Wisdom's eye? Behold the wheel Of universal life as twere a ring, But Man the superscription and the seal. Omar Khayyam. , , , , Hippolytus...
Chapter Iii. The Odes Of Ibnu L F'ari. Argument : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], ARGUMENT The poem, addressed to a real or imaginary disciple, sets forth in due order the phases of mystical experience through which the writer passed before attaining to oneness with God, and describes the nature of that abiding...
Chapter Iii. The Odes Of Ibnu L F'ari. Vv. 200 299 : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], (200) And I loaded her with tasks, nay, I took care that she should load herself with them, until I grew fond of my tribulation. p. 217 (201) And in correcting her I deprived her of every pleasure by removing her from her habits...
Chapter Iii. The Odes Of Ibnu L F'ari. Vv. 500 599 : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], (500 500) Therefore tis upon me the heavens turn, and marvel thou at their "Qub" (Pole) which encompasses them, howbeit the Pole is a central point. (501 501) And there was no "Qub" before me, whom I should succeed after having...
Chapter Ii. The Perfect Man. I. Essence : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], I. ESSENCE, ATTRIBUTE, AND NAME The Absolute Essence ("Dht"), or the Essence of God, is that to which names and attributes belong in their real nature, not as they appear in existence 1. It denotes the self ("nafs") of God whereby...
Chapter Ii. The Perfect Man. Iii. The Essence : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], III. THE ESSENCE AS GOD. In the "Insnu l-kmil" we find the same contrast as in the Vedanta system between Being with attributes, "i.e.", God, and Being which would not be absolute unless it were stripped of all qualities...
Chapter Iii. The Odes Of Ibnu L F'ari. Vv. 100 199 : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], (100 100) Cease, then, pretending to love, and call thy heart to something else, and drive thy error from thee by that (state) which (is the best). (101 101) And shun the quarter of union: tis far off, and was never reached...
Chapter Ii. The Perfect Man. Iv. The Heavenly Man : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], IV. THE HEAVENLY MAN. Like Jacob Bhme 2, Jl sets out from the principle that "in order that the truth may he manifested as a Something, there must be a contrary therein." He finds the ground of existence in a Being which, though...
Chapter Iii. The Odes Of Ibnu L F'ari. Vv. 1 100 : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], Saqatn umayya l-ubbi ratu muqlat wa-kas muayy man ani l-usni jallati (1 1) The hand of mine eye gave me love's strong wine to drink, when my cup was the face of Her that transcendeth beauty, (2 2) And in my drunkenness, by means...
Chapter Iii. The Odes Of Ibnu L F'ari. Vv. 300 399 : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], (300) And haughtily sweep the clouds with thy skirts--the p. 228 skirts of an impassioned lover which in his union (with the Beloved) trail over the top of the Milky Way! (301) And traverse the various degrees of oneness and do not...
Appendices. Appendix I. J'il'i's Ayniyya : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], p. 143 APPENDIX I JL'S AYNIYYA Mention has been made (p. 99, note 2 "supra") of Jl's ode entitled al-Nawdiru l- ayniyya fi l-bawdiri l-ghaybiyya. In the "Insnu l-Kmil" he cites 36 of its 534 verses (I. 30, 3; 39, 6 fr. foot; 52...
Chapter I. Ab'u Sa'id Ibn Abi L Khayr. Part Iii : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], III. fisim is at once the religious philosophy and the popular religion of Islam. The great Mohammedan mystics are also saints. Their lives belong to the Legend and contain, besides their lofty and abstruse speculations, an account...
Chapter Iii. The Odes Of Ibnu L F'ari. Introducti : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], p. 162 CHAPTER III THE ODES OF IBNU L-FRI 1 "Pensando al bel ch et non cangia o verno". Michael Angelo. One of the deepest differences between Arabs and Persians shows itself in the extent and character of the mystical poetry...
Title Page : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], STUDIES IN ISLAMIC MYSTICISM BY REYNOLD A. NICHOLSON LECTURER IN PERSIAN IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE FORMERLY FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE FORMERLY SIR THOMAS ADAMS'S PROFESSOR OF ARABIC IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE CAMBRIDGE...
Chapter I. Ab'u Sa'id Ibn Abi L Khayr. Part I : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], I. Ab Sad Falullah was born at Mayhana, the chief town of the Khwarn district of Khursn, on the 1st of Muarram, a.h. 357 (December 7th, a.d. 967). His father Ab l-Khayr, known in Mayhana as Bb Bu l-Khayr, was a druggist, "a pious...
Chapter Iii. The Odes Of Ibnu L F'ari. Vv. 707 761 : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], (707 707) Even thus (like the showman) I was letting down between me and myself the curtain that obscures the soul in the light of darkness, (708) That in producing my actions at intervals I might appear to my sensation gradually...
Chapter Ii. The Perfect Man. Vii. Religi : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], VII. RELIGION, REVELATION AND PROPHECY. Religious belief may be defined as man's thought about God, and we have learned that all things and thoughts in the universe are attributes of God, "i.e.", aspects in which He reveals Himself...
Chapter Ii. The Perfect Man. V. The Macrocosm : * "Studies in Islamic Mysticism", by Reynold A. Nicholson, [1921], V. THE MACROCOSM. As Man is created in the image of God, so the universe is created in the image of Man 5, who is its spirit and life 6. In describing its creation Jl combines mystical ideas with an old cosmological myth...