The Functions of Angels in Sufi Literature
Published on 3. April 2025
Book
Hardback
372 pages
978-90-04-71607-0 (ISBN)
Description
This book is a literary study tracing the roles and functions of angels as characters in Sufi literature, based on their functions outlined in the Qur?an. If you pick up any book discussing Islam or islamic theology, you will probably find angels in it - one never thinks much about them, and they often seem marginal. However, whether real or a simple literary device, what are the angels' real functions in a text? This study proposes to outline their functions, and more specifically what classical Sufi literature (7th-12th century CE) makes of them.
More details
Series
Language
Other
English
Place of publication
Leiden
Netherlands
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 239 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
776 gr
ISBN-13
978-90-04-71607-0 (9789004716070)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Louise Gallorini, Ph.D. (2021), Arabic and Near Eastern Languages Department, American University of Beirut. Currently an independent researcher, her latest publication is an upcoming article on al-Bis?ami (to be published in Brill's IHC series).
Content
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Abstract
Introduction
?1?Preliminary remarks
?2?Angels in the Quran
?3?Angels in Sufi commentarial literature
?4?Last remarks
1 Angels in Sufi Tafsir: the Basic Quranic Functions
?1?Some introductory remarks on the selected tafsir
?2?Reviewing angels in the tafsir
?3?Presentation of the basic Quranic functions of angels
?4?The narrative function of angels in the tafsir
?5?The theological function in the tafsir
?6?The religious praxis function in the tafsir
?7?Concluding thoughts
2 Angels in Sufi Tafsir: General Quranic Functions
?1?Presentation of the general Quranic functions of angels
?2?The cosmological function in the tafsir
?3?The role of messenger: the classic cosmological function in tafsir
?4?An overlooked cosmological function in tafsir: angels as testers
?5?Concluding thoughts
3 Angels in Sufi Tafsir: Two Sufi Functions
?1?Of angels, the jinn and the Devil in the Quran
?2?The function of cosmological enrichment in the tafsir
?3?The case of Gabriel, Michael, and other named angels in the tafsir
?4?The symbolic function of angels in the tafsir
?5?Concluding thoughts on angels in the Sufi tafsir
4 Angelic Roles and Functions in the Sufi Mi?raj
?1?The "heavenly ascension" or mi?raj in Islam
?2?The Sufi mi?raj
?3?The mi?raj of Abu Yazid al-Bis?ami
?4?The mi?raj of Ibn ?Arabi
?5?Concluding thoughts
5 Angels In al-Futu?at al-Makkiyya by Ibn ?Arabi
?1?Presentation of the work
?2?Building on the angelic general Quranic functions
?3?Building on the Basic Quranic Functions: Angels in Relationship to Humans, Spirits and Other Beings
?4?The symbolic function: the mystical meta-function of angels
?5?Concluding thoughts
Conclusion
Appendix1-Angels in Arabia: In and around the Quran
Appendix2-Verses in Mus?af Order
Appendix3-List of Verses Mentioned in Each Tafsir
Appendix4-Angelic Hierarchies
Bibliography
Index
Abbreviations
Abstract
Introduction
?1?Preliminary remarks
?2?Angels in the Quran
?3?Angels in Sufi commentarial literature
?4?Last remarks
1 Angels in Sufi Tafsir: the Basic Quranic Functions
?1?Some introductory remarks on the selected tafsir
?2?Reviewing angels in the tafsir
?3?Presentation of the basic Quranic functions of angels
?4?The narrative function of angels in the tafsir
?5?The theological function in the tafsir
?6?The religious praxis function in the tafsir
?7?Concluding thoughts
2 Angels in Sufi Tafsir: General Quranic Functions
?1?Presentation of the general Quranic functions of angels
?2?The cosmological function in the tafsir
?3?The role of messenger: the classic cosmological function in tafsir
?4?An overlooked cosmological function in tafsir: angels as testers
?5?Concluding thoughts
3 Angels in Sufi Tafsir: Two Sufi Functions
?1?Of angels, the jinn and the Devil in the Quran
?2?The function of cosmological enrichment in the tafsir
?3?The case of Gabriel, Michael, and other named angels in the tafsir
?4?The symbolic function of angels in the tafsir
?5?Concluding thoughts on angels in the Sufi tafsir
4 Angelic Roles and Functions in the Sufi Mi?raj
?1?The "heavenly ascension" or mi?raj in Islam
?2?The Sufi mi?raj
?3?The mi?raj of Abu Yazid al-Bis?ami
?4?The mi?raj of Ibn ?Arabi
?5?Concluding thoughts
5 Angels In al-Futu?at al-Makkiyya by Ibn ?Arabi
?1?Presentation of the work
?2?Building on the angelic general Quranic functions
?3?Building on the Basic Quranic Functions: Angels in Relationship to Humans, Spirits and Other Beings
?4?The symbolic function: the mystical meta-function of angels
?5?Concluding thoughts
Conclusion
Appendix1-Angels in Arabia: In and around the Quran
Appendix2-Verses in Mus?af Order
Appendix3-List of Verses Mentioned in Each Tafsir
Appendix4-Angelic Hierarchies
Bibliography
Index