Sufism: An Account of the Mystics of Islam

Sufism: An Account of the Mystics of Islam by A.J. Arberry is a highly informative work that reflects the complexities of the Sufi tradition while written in such a way that the reader is not overwhelmed by useless or excessive information. In a clearly and cunningly written book, Arberry informs the reader of the tradition of the Sufi, an often misunderstood tradition within an often misunderstood religion. This mystical approach to Islam is both fascinating and inspiring, both attributes which Arberry keenly illustrates. The rich history, developed thought and uncertain future of Sufism is described by Arberry with a rich vocabulary and deft writing style. This easy to read book is beautifully written, brimming with useful information, and relatable to any reader from any walk of life. Arberry gives very insightful commentary on the beginnings, developments, and doctrines of the Sufi tradition.

When the book opens, the writing style employed by Arberry is captivating and concise. The sentences flow into paragraphs composing pages so fluid and readable the reader may be unaware that he or she is turning pages. Arberry manages to eloquently condense complex ideas, extensive histories, and provocative biographies while not seeming rushed or too dense. The reader is not burdened with pages of filler that escape the memory as he or she trudges through another ill-written paragraph, but rather, Arberry’s writing excites the reader and invites the reader to explore the topic found within the pages. When picking up a book with a matter-of-fact title which addresses the complexities of the mysticism of the world’s second largest religion, the reader can often dread the task at hand especially when the intricacies of the topic are handled in less than 200 pages, but the writing of Arberry is brilliantly written as to not intimidate the casual reader or bore the scholarly reader. The writing found within this book develops ideas with speed and precision, ideas that took centuries to mold, but thanks to the ingenuity of Arberry, do not take too long to comprehend. In the beginning of the book, the writing style of Arberry has a mood of anticipation as if the reader is in for a climactic surprise, but in some parts of the book, this mood of anticipation and excitement gets lost somewhere among the factual style that can often take over and steal from Arberry’s talent as a writer. While the frequent and frequently long quotations used by Arberry are informative and relevant, they can often distract or weaken Arberry’s skillful writing. Arberry’s inspiring voice becomes lost among the fragmented paragraphs among the many lengthy quotations. Although the text may slow down and even drag at times, the overall effect of Arberry’s writing creates an exciting story that tells the stories and ideas of this movement and the thoughts and lives of the men and women who developed this practice.

The amount of information found within this book is extensive but not overwhelming. In less than 200 pages Arberry is able to discuss the founders, origins, developments, theories, theosophies, and future of Sufism. After completing this book the reader has been exposed to a remarkable amount of information regarding this tradition that so many people know so little about. Arberry obviously has a vast knowledge of Sufism and a great handle for how to preset that information in a clear and concise manner. This book contains centuries of history, biography, and philosophy, but the book itself is rather small regarding the enormous amount of information contained within. The reader must be careful to attentively read, because Arberry is able to compact a plethora of knowledge into a small, smartly written paragraph. Arberry seems to have a finesse for discerning what data is relevant to his reader and what data is simply distracting from the topic. Arberry wastes no paper with his cunning writing. In comparison to other volumes regarding this topic, Arberry’s book is rather short; however, the brevity of his work does not suggest that the reader is less informed. Arberry is able to present a copious amount of data to the reader while sparing the cumbersome details. This style creates for a book that is highly informative and hardly a burden.

Often when quoting the Qur’an or quoting the sayings or writings of the mystics, Arberry uses passages and phrase that can find close parallels to Christian scriptures and traditions.

The Prophet said, “If ye trusted in God as ye should, he would sustain you even as he sustains the birds, which in the morning go forth hungry, and return in the evening filled.”(27)

This saying of the Prophet may appear very familiar to the reader who is Christian or familiar with the Christian scriptures. A similar saying is traditionally held to come from Jesus is found in both Matthew and Luke.

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:5-6, KJV)

This imagery found in both sayings shows that God cares even for the birds, therefore followers of God should not worry about what they are to eat or who will take care of them. Often Arberry will relate the development of a Sufi idea to a comparable development found in Christianity. Arberry has not written a comparative book, but his use of these commons themes serves a purpose. By relating Sufism to mystic Christianity, Arberry is creating a backdrop for which readers who may not be exposed to Islam may find a point of reference. Also, for the reader that has had been negatively exposed to Islam, these parallels help the reader gain empathy for Islam and open the mind of the reader as he learns about the development and practice of Sufism. Rather than see the practice as strange and totally foreign, the reader is able to relate and better understand Sufism. This technique is subtle and perhaps not even intentional on the part of Arberry, but it does provide familiarity for the reader who may be unfamiliar with the Sufi tradition or the broader tradition of Islam.

In his chapter entitled “Decay of Sufism, Arberry postulates that Sufism has declined since the fifteenth century and will continue to decline in the 20^th century. Arberry paints a bleak picture for the future of Sufism facing the technological advances of the 20^th century and the thirst for rationalism that seemed to dominate in the realm of religion. When facing the questions of the more educated and scientific generations of the 20^th century, the esoteric approach to religion would fade a more people prefer reason over faith. Perhaps in the context of his time this assumption was a very intelligent guess, but current trends do not always determine future trends. The later 20^th century and early 21^st century has seen a revival in Sufism. According to an article in Boston Globe, “Sufi Rising” which was released in January of 2009, there has been a substantial increase in the amount of Muslims who identify themselves as Sufi. According to the article, in 1979 Iran was home to 100,000 Sufis, but in 2009, there are approximately 5 million Sufis. Sufi revivals have also been seen in Africa and Indonesia. The fundamentalism that developed in the 20^th century may be a direct cause for this revival. As globalization brings more faiths and ideas together for dialogue and interaction, followers of once rigid faiths may now explore options that are less rigid and more mystical. Science and technology have brought many comforts to lives around the globe. Materialism and greed are now executed on a global scale that can potentially affect people all over the map. In this age of excess and consumerism, some may be inspired by the ascetic lifestyles of the Sufis who founded the tradition. Owning stuff and acquiring wealth does not answer the questions regarding the divine, so many people seek out more mystical approaches to their faiths that encourage asceticism and are more flexible towards the faiths traditions of others. The Sufi tradition of love, peace, and reconciliation speak to generations who have been affected by the extremist views and actions of violent jihadists. Market values are no values at all, and absolutism breeds fear and hate. The desire for a renewed morality and a peaceful existence between differing faiths may be what leads some to the mystical practices of Sufism. Arberry may have missed the mark with his prediction of the future of Sufism, but this does not subtract from his insightfulness for trends in his time that had been developing for centuries.

Arberry has written a book that informs with a clear, sharp, and empathetic voice. The knowledge gained by reading this book will answer many questions the reader may have had regarding Sufism. Arberry deftly handles the topics of the Qur’an, the Prophet, and the practices of Sufism. With factual but artful writing Arberry paints a picture of Sufism that easy to understand and empathize. Arberry takes what may be a foreign tradition and creates a tradition that is comprehensible and relatable. The brilliant writing of Arberry creates a book that is a delight to read as the words are eloquently presented to best approach the topic. Arberry’s talent as a writer shines through in this work, but not only because of his technical prowess. Arberry presents a mass of information that could potentially fill volumes regarding the beliefs, practices, and future of Sufism, but with his knack for sharp writing, Arberry is able to provide much information while not overwhelming the reader. Arberry is also able to present Sufism in such a way that even the most unfamiliar of readers can find aspects of the tradition that are paralleled in other traditions. Arberry was a clever writer who aptly presented Sufism to audiences that will walk away with a deeper understanding of the mystic tradition of the world’s second largest religion.