New Releases by Seyyed Hossein Nasr

Return to the Eternal Abode is a series of in-depth discussions between Amira El-Zein and Seyyed Hossein Nasr, one of the world''s foremost scholars of Islamic, religious, and comparative studies. Each of the six chapters addresses a central theme at the heart of Sufism: creativity, cosmology, the environment, poetry, art, and modernity. Nasr''s answers to El-Zein''s probing questions offer thought-provoking, comprehensive, and interdisciplinary approaches to these aspects of the Sufi tradition, reflecting a lifetime of scholarship and comfortably synthesizing various sources, philosophies, and traditions, both Islamic and otherwise. The book also sheds light on Nasr''s relations to eminent thinkers of the twentieth century, such as Titus Burckhardt, Mircea Eliade, Louis Massignon, and Henry Corbin and provides, in many ways, an accessible synopsis or overview of his entire oeuvre.

Seyyed Hossein Nasr merupakan salah seorang tokoh dan “orang pertama” yang paling otoritatif dalam membicarakan kajian-kajian Timur, utamanya disiplin filsafat dan mistisisme Islam. Oleh karenanya, kita patut bersyukur bahwa Ach. Maimun Syamsuddin telah meluangkan waktu untuk menerjemahkan salah satu teks kunci filsafat Islam ini ke dalam bahasa kita secara bernas. Buku yang pada mulanya disampaikan sebagai bahan kuliah di Harvard University ini penting kita baca jika kita hendak memahami lebih mendalam tentang korpus filsafat Islam. Penulis buku ini punya hipotesis menarik. Ia menyatakan bahwa filsafat Islam, pada prinsipnya, dapat diklasifikasikan ke dalam tiga madzhab utama: Madzhab Ibnu Sina, Madzhab Suhrawardi, dan Madzhab Ibnu ‘Arabi. Adapun percikan-percikan filsafat dari filsuf-filsuf Islam lainnya tak lebih hanyalah “catatan kaki” dari ketiganya. Maka, untuk mendalami filsafat Islam secara lebih detail, orang terlebih dahulu memahami secara benar buah pikiran ketiga filsuf tersebut. Dan, melalui karya ini, penulis hendak menuntun pembaca bertamasya ke taman filsafat Islam yang sesungguhnya yang lebih kompleks, rumit, dan membahagiakan.

Tasawuf, jalan kerohanian, atau tarekat, salah satu tujuannya adalah untuk membebaskan manusia dari penjara kemajemukan menuju kodratnya yang utuh lagi suci (fitrah). Ketika manusia memegang teguh kodratnya dan menjadi diri sendiri seutuhnya, saat itu pula ia mencapai kebahagiaan hakiki di dunia ini dan di akhirat nanti. Melalui pengkajian yang cukup menyentuh dasar dan lengkap, tetapi disajikan secara sederhana, buku ini tidak hanya mengulas tujuan tasawuf. Di dalamnya, juga dibahas tentang tasawuf dan kelanggengan damba mistik, tingkatan kerohanian di dalam tasawuf, guru sufi, wahyu dan akal, Islam dan pertemuan agama-agama, dan lain sebagainya. Diharapkan, buku ini dapat menjadi kunci untuk membuka sejumlah pintu menuju gudang perbendaharaan tasawuf sejak dulu hingga sekarang. Terlebih, buku ini ditulis oleh Seyyed Hossein Nasr, salah seorang di antara ilmuwan muslim yang memiliki keahlian dalam pengkajian Islam yang cukup mendalam. Sekitar tahun tujuh puluhan, ia menjadi guru besar di tiga benua: Asia, Eropa, dan Amerika. Selamat membaca!

Mecca the Blessed, Medina the Radiant is an unprecedented photographic exploration of the most holy cities of Islam and the Hajj, or annual pilgrimage during Ramadan, when more than a million faithful journey to Mecca''s Great Mosque to commemorate the first revelation of the Qur''an (Koran). This book allows both Muslims and those unfamiliar with the Islamic faith complete access to the holiest sites of one of the world''s major religions, practiced by a quarter of the world''s population but often misunderstood in the West. Photographer Ali Kazuyoshi Namachi, a Muslim convert from Japan, garnered the full support of Saudi Arabian authorities--rarely given--to shoot in cities where photography is strictly controlled and non-Muslims are not allowed. An expansive work of photojournalism, Mecca the Blessed, Medina the Radiant includes: 140 full-color, never-before-seen photographs Mystical places and scenes of Islam Breathtaking aerial photographs of the Arabian terrain Vistas of teeming crowds of worshippers surrounding the Kacbah, Mecca''s sacred center Intense portraits of faithful Muslims in prayer Magnificent architecture reflecting the faith of the believers Archival illustrations Text by Seyyed Hossein Nasr, one of the most highly regarded scholars of Islam, enhances the stunning Islamic holy city photographs to illuminate many aspects of Islamic belief that have remained enigma to non-Muslims--until now.

An accessible and accurate translation of the Quran that offers a rigorous analysis of its theological, metaphysical, historical, and geographical teachings and backgrounds, and includes extensive study notes, special introductions by experts in the field, and is edited by a top modern Islamic scholar, respected in both the West and the Islamic world. Drawn from a wide range of traditional Islamic commentaries, including Sunni and Shia sources, and from legal, theological, and mystical texts, The Study Quran conveys the enduring spiritual power of the Quran and offers a thorough scholarly understanding of this holy text. Beautifully packaged with a rich, attractive two-color layout, this magnificent volume includes essays by 15 contributors, maps, useful notes and annotations in an easy-to-read two-column format, a timeline of historical events, and helpful indices. With The Study Quran, both scholars and lay readers can explore the deeper spiritual meaning of the Quran, examine the grammar of difficult sections, and explore legal and ritual teachings, ethics, theology, sacred history, and the importance of various passages in Muslim life. With an introduction by its general editor, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, here is a nearly 2,000-page, continuous discussion of the entire Quran that provides a comprehensive picture of how this sacred work has been read by Muslims for over 1,400 years.

Mecca the Blessed, Medina the Radiant is an unprecedented photographic exploration of the holiest cities of Islam and the Hajj, or annual pilgrimage during Ramadan when more than a million faithful journey to Mecca''s Great Mosque to commemorate the first revelation of the Qur''an (Koran). This book allows both Muslims and those unfamiliar with the Islamic faith complete access to the holiest sites of one of the world''s major religions, practiced by a quarter of the world''s population but often misunderstood in the West. Photographer Ali Kazuyoshi Namachi, a Muslim convert from Japan, garnered the full support of Saudi Arabian authorities—rarely given—to shoot in cities where photography is strictly controlled and, non-Muslims are not allowed. An expansive work of photojournalism, Mecca the Blessed, Medina the Radiant includes: 140 full-color, never-before-seen photographs Mystical places and scenes of Islam Breathtaking aerial photographs of the Arabian terrain Vistas of teeming crowds of worshippers surrounding the Kasbah, Mecca''s sacred center Intense portraits of faithful Muslims in prayer Magnificent architecture reflecting the faith of the believers Archival illustrations Text by Seyyed Hossein Nasr, one of the most highly regarded scholars of Islam, enhances the stunning Islamic holy city photographs to illuminate many aspects of Islamic belief that have remained an enigma to non-Muslims—until now.

The fourth volume of the Anthology of Philosophy in Persia deals with one of the richest and yet least known periods of philosophical life in Persia, the centuries between the seventh/thirteenth century, that saw the eclipse of the school of Khorosan, and the tenth/sixteenth century that coincided with the rise of the Safavids. The main schools dealt with in this volume are the Peripatetic (mashsha''i) School, the School of Illumination (ishraq) of Suhrawardi, and various forms of philosophical Sufism, especially the school of Ibn ''Arabi, that had its origins in the works of Ghazzali and ''Ayn al-Qudat Hamadani. This period was also notable for the philosopher-scientists such as Nasir al-Din Tusi and Qutb al-Din Shirazi.

In this book, a series of interviews offers an accessible, revealing, human and intellectual biography of leading Islamic scholar Seyyed Hossein Nasr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr is one of the preeminent philosophers writing today. Sure to be a key resource for decades to come, In Search of the Sacred: A Conversation with Seyyed Hossein Nasr on His Life and Thought illuminates Nasr''s experiences and shares his insights on topics from religion and philosophy to science and the arts. Based on a series of interviews, the book combines traditional autobiography with an exploration of the intellectual and spiritual trajectories of the author''s thought during key periods of his life. In doing so, it presents a fascinating panorama, not only of the life and ideas of one man, but also of major events ranging from intellectual life in Iran during the Pahlavi period and the Iranian Revolution to some of the major religious and intellectual debates between Islam and modernism. Nasr writes that his "whole life has been a quest for the sacred." This work connects that quest with some of the most important issues of the day in encounters between Islam and the West.

The headlines are filled with the politics of Islam, but there is another side to the world''s fastest-growing religion. Sufism is the poetry and mysticism of Islam. This mystical movement from the early ninth century rejects worship motivated by the desire for heavenly reward or the fear of punishment, insisting rather on the love of God as the only valid form of adoration. Sufism has made significant contributions to Islamic civilization in music and philosophy, dance and literature. The Sufi poet Rumi is the bestselling poet in America. But in recent centuries Sufism has been a target for some extremist Islamic movements as well as many modernists. The Garden of Truth presents the beliefs and vision of the mystical heart of Islam, along with a history of Sufi saints and schools of thought. In a world threatened by religious wars, depleting natural resources, a crumbling ecosystem, and alienation and isolation, what has happened to our humanity? Who are we and what are we doing here? The Sufi path offers a journey toward truth, to a knowledge that transcends our mundane concerns, selfish desires, and fears. In Sufism we find a wisdom that brings peace and a relationship with God that nurtures the best in us and in others. Noted scholar Seyyed Hossein Nasr helps you learn the secret wisdom tradition of Islam and enter what the ancient mystics call the "garden of truth." Here, liberate your mind, experience peace, discover your purpose, fall in love with the Divine, and find your true, best self.

As the specter of religious extremism has become a fact of life today, the temptation is great to allow the evil actions and perspectives of a minority to represent an entire tradition. In the case of Islam, there has been much recent confusion in the Western world centered on distorted portrayals of its core values. Born of ignorance, such confusion feeds the very problem at hand. In The Heart of Islam one of the great intellectual figures in Islamic history offers a timely presentation of the core spiritual and social values of Islam: peace, compassion, social justice, and respect for the other. Seizing this unique moment in history to reflect on the essence of his tradition, Seyyed Hossein Nasr seeks to "open a spiritual and intellectual space for mutual understanding." Exploring Islamic values in scripture, traditional sources, and history, he also shows their clear counterparts in the Jewish and Christian traditions, revealing the common ground of the Abrahamic faiths. Nasr challenges members of the world''s civilizations to stop demonizing others while identifying themselves with pure goodness and to turn instead to a deeper understanding of those shared values that can solve the acute problems facing humanity today. "Muslims must ask themselves what went wrong within their own societies," he writes, "but the West must also pose the same question about itself . . . whether we are Muslims, Jews, Christians, or even secularists, whether we live in the Islamic world or in the West, we are in need of meaning in our lives, of ethical norms to guide our actions, of a vision that would allow us to live at peace with each other and with the rest of God''s creation." Such help, he believes, lies at the heart of every religion and can lead the followers of the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) as well as other religious and spiritual traditions to a new future of mutual respect and common global purpose. The Heart of Islam is a landmark presentation of enduring value that offers hope to humanity, and a compelling portrait of the beauty and appeal of the faith of 1.2 billion people.

Muslims.

En El corazón del Islam, uno de los mejores expertos en la historia islámica nos ofrece una inteligente visión del núcleo espiritual y los valores sociales del Islam: paz, compasión, justicia social y respeto por los otros. Estudiando los valores del Islam en la Escritura, en las fuentes tradicionales y en la historia, Seyyed Hossein Nasr muestra también su proximidad a las tradiciones judía y cristiana, poniendo de relieve el terreno común sobre el que se levantan las tres religiones abrahámicas.

Table of Contents The Essential Seyyed Hossein Nasr by Nasr, Seyyed Hossein; Smith, Huston (Foreword by) Terms of Use Foreword Huston Smith p. vii Introduction William C. Chittick p. ix Religion 1 Living in a Multi-Religious World p. 3 2 The Traditionalist Approach to Religion p. 21 3 Religion and the Environmental Crisis p. 29 Islam 4 One God p. 43 5 Many Prophets p. 53 6 The Nature of Man p. 65 7 The Integration of the Soul p. 73 8 The Throne of the All-Merciful p. 85 9 The Role of Philosophy p. 97 10 Suhrawardi p. 111 11 Mulla Sadra p. 115 12 Existence and Quiddity p. 119 Tradition 13 Scientia Sacra p. 131 14 Renaissance Humanism p. 139 15 God as Reality p. 153 16 Time and Eternity p. 159 17 Pontifical and Promethean Man p. 171 18 The Cosmos as Theophany p. 189 19 Traditional Art p. 203 20 The Wisdom of the Body p. 215 21 In the Beginning was Consciousness p. 223 Sources p. 231 Selected Bibliography p. 233 Biographical Notes p. 237 Index p. 239 Descriptive content provided by Syndetics"! a Bowker service. Summary The Essential Seyyed Hossein Nasr by Nasr, Seyyed Hossein; Smith, Huston (Foreword by) Terms of use "The highest honor a philosopher can receive is to be nominated by his peers for inclusion in the series of The Library of Living Philosophers [for which the] latest entry is The Philosophy of Seyyed Hossein Nasr. And the highest honor a theologian can receive is to be invited to deliver the Gifford Lectures in Glasgow, Scotland. Seyyed Hossein Nasr is the only person ever to have received both of these honors ... This valuable book distills the essence of the thought of one of the most important thinkers or our times." Book jacket. Descriptive content provided by Syndetics"! a Bowker service.

With this second volume of poetry, Nasr, whose name the reader usually associates with the philosopher, the historian, and the scientist, further explores the pilgrimage of life and invites readers to realize their true transcendent destination. (World Religions)

In this issue of Sophia, the leading Islamic thinker in America, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, speaks out on the environmental crisis in a compellling interview, and the noted scientist and theologian, Wolfgang Smith, writes on cosmology and gnosis. Other highlights include an article on parallels between Shingon Buddhism and Islam, an indepth analysis of the cosmogonic significance of the Ark of Noah and the Ark of the Covenant, the story of a spiritual seeker''s journey in Ladakh, and a thorough assessment of the mathematical implications of the metaphysics of Rene Guenon.

A comprehensive overview of the Islamic philosophical tradition.

Discusses the question of Islamic science in its relation to Islamic civilization as well as the relation between Islam and science today to benefit from those wise Muslim scientists, savants and hakims those thoughts and words are translated and studied in this book--p.xvi

One of the world''s leading Islamicists offers a concise introduction to the history, beliefs, and practice of his faith.