The Book of Certainty: The Sufi Doctrine of Faith, Vision and Gnosis

by Abu Bakr Siraj ad-Din, Martin Lings (Translator)

Overview

'To express in the language of Sufism, that is, Islamic mysticism, some of the universal truths which lie at the heart of all religions'—this is the book's avowed purpose. It came into being because the author was asked by a friend to set down in writing what he considered to be the most important things that a human being can know. He was also asked to make it very easy, and despite the depth of all that it contains, it has in fact a remarkable simplicity and clarity, due no doubt to the constant use of traditional imagery which awakens and penetrates the imagination.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780946621378
Publisher:	Islamic Texts Society
Publication date:	09/01/1996
Series:	Golden Palm Series
Edition description:	REVISED
Pages:	90
Product dimensions:	4.50(w) x 7.75(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Shaykh Abu Bakr Siraj ad-Din (Dr Martin Lings) (d. 2005), formerly Keeper of Oriental Manuscript at the British Museum and the British Library, is the author of the best-selling title Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources, and of What is Sufism?, Sufi Poems, and The Holy Qur’an: Translations of Selected Verses, all published by the Islamic Texts Society.

Read an Excerpt

IN EVERY esoteric doctrine there are references to three degrees of faith, and in Islamic mysticism, that is, in Sufism, these three degrees are known as the Lore of Certainty ('ilmu 'l-yaqin), the Eye of Certainty ('aynu 'l-yaqin) and the Truth of Certainty (haqqu 'l-yaqin). The difference between them is illustrated by taking the element fire to represent the Divine Truth. The lowest degree, that of the Lore of Certainty, belongs to one whose knowledge of fire comes merely from hearing it described, like those who received from Moses no more than 'tidings' of the Burning Bush. The second degree, that of the Eye of Certainty, belongs to one whose knowledge of fire comes from seeing the light of its flames, like Moses before he reached the Bush. The highest degree, that of the Truth of Certainty, belongs to one whose knowledge of fire comes from being consumed by it and thus becoming one with it, for this degree belongs only to the One. The realisation of this Oneness is here implied for Moses in that he is summoned into the Divine Presence with which the Bush is surrounded. Entry into that presence is the equivalent of entering into the fire. Blessed is He who is in the fire and He who is about it.

Table of Contents

Preface
1 The Truth of Certainty
2 The Garden of the Spirit
3 The Eye of Certainty
4 The Lore of Certainty
5 The Gardens of the Heart and the Soul
6 The Fall
7 The Symbol
8 The Four Worlds
9 The Waters
10 The Creator of the Pairs
11 The Symbolism of Marriage
12 The Sun and the Moon
13 The Seal of Solomon
14 The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
15 The Narrow Gate
16 The Covenant
17 The Caravan of Winter
18 The Caravan of Summer

Editorial Reviews

"This book is an excellent introduction to Sufism, highly intelligent, balanced, lucid, well-written and in places really eloquent." —Islamic Culture, Hyderabad



"Wonderful, short and sweet discussion of symbols and the spiritual world...important and significant window into the Sufi mode of speech." —Journal of Islamic Studies



"Abu Bakr Siraj ad-Din has bestowed upon the world a great benefaction in giving it this very important Sufic treatise." —Islamic Quarterly

From the Publisher

'The publishers claim this volume to be 'the first authentic modern account of Sufic teaching written from within'. Every page bears out this claim, for the author is steeped in the esoteric teaching of the sufi sheikhs... It is both enjoyable and instructive to peruse his little volume.'

Prof. A. J. Arberry

'There are indeed few works known to the author of this review which, in so small a space and in a manner so vivid and so free from abstruseness, have been able to present the basic ideas required by one minded to engage in the spiritual course with full intent and not merely out of that passing interest which stops short at theory.'

Marco Pallis