Sufi Narratives of Intimacy

Ibn 'Arabī, Gender, and Sexuality

By Sa'diyya Shaikh | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

Thirteenth-century Sufi poet, mystic, and legal scholar Muhyi al-Din ibn al-'Arabi gave deep and sustained attention to gender as integral to questions of human existence and moral personhood. Reading his works through a critical feminist lens, Sa'diyya Shaikh opens fertile spaces in which new and creative encounters with gender justice in Islam can take place. Grounding her work in Islamic epistemology, Shaikh attends to the ways in which Sufi metaphysics and theology might allow for fundamental shifts in Islamic gender ethics and legal formulations, addressing wide-ranging contemporary challenges including questions of women’s rights in marriage and divorce, the politics of veiling, and women’s leadership of ritual prayer.

Shaikh deftly deconstructs traditional binaries between the spiritual and the political, private conceptions of spiritual development and public notions of social justice, and the realms of inner refinement and those of communal virtue. Drawing on the treasured works of Sufism, Shaikh raises a number of critical questions about the nature of selfhood, subjectivity, spirituality, and society to contribute richly to the prospects of Islamic feminism as well as feminist ethics more broadly.

Editions of Sufi Narratives of Intimacy

Hardcover
ISBN 9780807835333
Paperback
ISBN 9781469618906
EBook
ISBN 9780807869864
EBook
ISBN 9781469601939
EBook
ISBN 9798893132380
PDF
ISBN 9798890880789

Read an Excerpt

Thirteenth-century Sufi poet, mystic, and legal scholar Muhyi al-Din ibn al-'Arabi gave deep and sustained attention to gender as integral to questions of human existence and moral personhood. Reading his works through a critical feminist lens, Sa'diyya Shaikh opens fertile spaces in which new and creative encounters with gender justice in Islam can take place. Grounding her work in Islamic epistemology, Shaikh attends to the ways in which Sufi metaphysics and theology might allow for fundamental shifts in Islamic gender ethics and legal formulations, addressing wide-ranging contemporary challenges including questions of women’s rights in marriage and divorce, the politics of veiling, and women’s leadership of ritual prayer.

Shaikh deftly deconstructs traditional binaries between the spiritual and the political, private conceptions of spiritual development and public notions of social justice, and the realms of inner refinement and those of communal virtue. Drawing on the treasured works of Sufism, Shaikh raises a number of critical questions about the nature of selfhood, subjectivity, spirituality, and society to contribute richly to the prospects of Islamic feminism as well as feminist ethics more broadly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sufi Narratives of Intimacy about?

Thirteenth-century Sufi poet, mystic, and legal scholar Muhyi al-Din ibn al-'Arabi gave deep and sustained attention to gender as integral to questions of human existence and moral personhood. Reading his works through a critical feminist lens, Sa'diyya Shaikh opens fertile spaces in which new and creative encounters with gender justice in Islam can take place. Grounding her work in Islamic epistemology, Shaikh attends to the ways in which Sufi metaphysics and theology might allow for fundamental shifts in Islamic gender ethics and legal formulations, addressing wide-ranging contemporary challenges including questions of women’s rights in marriage and divorce, the politics of veiling, and women’s leadership of ritual prayer.

Shaikh deftly deconstructs traditional binaries between the spiritual and the political, private conceptions of spiritual development and public notions of social justice, and the realms of inner refinement and those of communal virtue. Drawing on the treasured works of Sufism, Shaikh raises a number of critical questions about the nature of selfhood, subjectivity, spirituality, and society to contribute richly to the prospects of Islamic feminism as well as feminist ethics more broadly.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Sufi Narratives of Intimacy?

Philosophy and Religion > Religion and beliefs > Islam > Islam: branches and groups > Islamic groups: Sufis

Where can I read a sample of Sufi Narratives of Intimacy?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807835333

How long is Sufi Narratives of Intimacy and how many pages does it have?

Sufi Narratives of Intimacy has 304 page(s)

Is Sufi Narratives of Intimacy part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?

Yes it is a part of series Islamic Civilization and Muslim Networks

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Sufi Narratives of Intimacy?

Sa'diyya Shaikh

Who is the Publisher of the book Sufi Narratives of Intimacy?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Sufi Narratives of Intimacy is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807835333) and paperback(ISBN 9781469618906) and ebook(ISBN 9780807869864) and ebook(ISBN 9781469601939) and ebook(ISBN 9798893132380) and pdf(ISBN 9798890880789)

Where can I buy Sufi Narratives of Intimacy online or support local independent bookshops?

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Where can I buy Sufi Narratives of Intimacy?