A Sufi-Jewish Dialogue
Philosophy and Mysticism in Bahya Ibn Paquda's "Duties of the Heart"
Format:Hardback
Publisher:University of Pennsylvania Press
Published:2nd Jan '07
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
Diana Lobel's A Sufi-Jewish Dialogue explores the profound connections between Bahya Ibn Paquda's Duties of the Heart and the interplay of Islamic and Jewish civilizations.
In A Sufi-Jewish Dialogue, Diana Lobel delves into the significant impact of Bahya Ibn Paquda's Duties of the Heart, a seminal work written in Judeo-Arabic during the eleventh century in Muslim Spain. This book not only serves as a guide to Jewish spirituality but also illustrates the intricate interconnection between Islamic and Jewish cultures, often referred to as the 'Jewish-Arab symbiosis.' Lobel emphasizes how this work, which quickly transitioned into Hebrew, has been influential throughout history, yet many readers may overlook its rich Arabic origins and its deep ties to Islamic mystical literature.
Lobel characterizes Bahya as a unique figure who masterfully blends abstract negative theology with an emphasis on inner devotion and a personal relationship with God. Her analysis positions Bahya as someone so immersed in Islamic thought that an Arabic reader might perceive him as a Muslim. Conversely, he remains a vital source of inspiration for Jewish seekers. This duality highlights Bahya's role as a bridge between these religious traditions, intertwining rational philosophy with Sufi mysticism, which later influenced the philosophical and spiritual frameworks of thinkers like Moses Maimonides.
A Sufi-Jewish Dialogue is a groundbreaking scholarly work in English that examines an essential piece of medieval Jewish thought. It appeals to scholars and readers interested in comparative literature, philosophy, and religious studies, particularly in the context of the rich cultural exchanges in the Middle East. The book invites readers to explore a remarkable era when Jewish, Christian, and Islamic scholars engaged in a shared spiritual journey across diverse traditions and cultural landscapes.
"An ambitious attempt to fill a long-standing lacuna in the history of Jewish thought by presenting a synthesis and evaluation of Bahya in his intellectual context. It draws on over a century of scholarship, suggests some new sources for Bahya and new readings of old sources, and offers an interpretation of his thought." (Charles H. Manekin, University of Maryland) "This manuscript contains a subtle, probing, and rich exposition of the key issue of devotional self-examination within Jewish and Islamic mysticism. The author has a superb sense of Arabic, Sufi mystical psychology, and the extraordinary dialogue (sometimes openly acknowledged, often left unacknowledged) among Jewish, Islamic, Christian, and Greek traditions at the time of Ibn Paquda." (Michael Sells, University of Chicago) "Lobel illustrates the power of philology in the best sense. Her critical ear for the nuances and history of Arabo- Islamic terminology . . . enables her to probe the deep structural penetration of Sufi ideas in the work of Jewish thinkers and seekers. To put it another way, A Sufi-Jewish Dialogue traces the process by which Arabo-Islamic conceptual frames are imported into Judaism through shared use of the Arabic language. . . . Lobel is keenly attuned to the historical dimension of the work and its place in the cultural and intellectual history of the Jews of al-Andalus and all of Islam." (The Medieval Review)
ISBN: 9780812239539
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
376 pages