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The Other Islam: Sufism and the Road to Global Harmony
This eye-opening, insightful exploration of Sufism, the spiritual tradition that has supported Islam for more than a thousand years, shows why it offers a promising foundation for reconciliation between the Western and Muslim worlds.
Many Americans today identify Islam with maniacal hatred of the West. The Other Islam transforms this image and opens the way to finding common ground in our troubled times. Sufism, a blend of the mystical and rational tendencies within Islam, emerged soon after the revelation of Muhammad. A reforming movement against the increasing worldliness of Muslim society, it focuses on Islam’s spiritual dimension. Described as “Islam of the Heart,” Sufism has attracted adherents among both Sunni and Shi’a Muslims, as well as Jews, Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists.
In The Other Islam , Stephen Schwartz traces the origins and history of Sufism, elucidates its teachings, and illustrates its links to the other religions. He comments on such celebrated Sufi poets and philosophers as Rumi and Al-Ghazali, and narrates their influence on the Kabbalah, on the descendants of the Jewish philosopher Maimonides, and on Christian mystics like Saint John of the Cross and Saint Teresa of Ávila as well as the American transcendentalists.
Furthermore, Schwartz presents a fresh survey of Sufism in today’s Islamic world, anticipating an intellectual renaissance of the faith and alternatives to fundamentalism and tyranny in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran.
Many Americans today identify Islam with maniacal hatred of the West. The Other Islam transforms this image and opens the way to finding common ground in our troubled times. Sufism, a blend of the mystical and rational tendencies within Islam, emerged soon after the revelation of Muhammad. A reforming movement against the increasing worldliness of Muslim society, it focuses on Islam’s spiritual dimension. Described as “Islam of the Heart,” Sufism has attracted adherents among both Sunni and Shi’a Muslims, as well as Jews, Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists.
In The Other Islam , Stephen Schwartz traces the origins and history of Sufism, elucidates its teachings, and illustrates its links to the other religions. He comments on such celebrated Sufi poets and philosophers as Rumi and Al-Ghazali, and narrates their influence on the Kabbalah, on the descendants of the Jewish philosopher Maimonides, and on Christian mystics like Saint John of the Cross and Saint Teresa of Ávila as well as the American transcendentalists.
Furthermore, Schwartz presents a fresh survey of Sufism in today’s Islamic world, anticipating an intellectual renaissance of the faith and alternatives to fundamentalism and tyranny in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 10, 2015
This was one of the few books at my local library written specifically about Sufism. Looking over some of the reviews for it here, I think it's clear this has something to do with it's tepid reception. What people were expecting to find: an introduction to the history and practices of Sufism, from a purely academic angle. This is not really an accurate description of this book, which is certainly not the author's fault. What it is, or at least seemed to be: a socio-political examination of Sufism and its role in shaping Muslim culture/theology across the ages. Naturally, some history and practice is involved in accomplishing this, but they aren't really the focus.
This is also not some propaganda piece hoping to use a diluted, western-friendly philosophy to pacify the Islamaphobes at the expense of other Muslim sects. The author is upfront about being a Sufi himself, and warns against seeing Sufism as a "cure" for radical Islam, or a PR tool for American politicians in their various and sundry military expeditions abroad. "Using" a religion like this will always produce bad fruit; its adherents will eventually see through the facade. Nevertheless, he also makes the case that Sufism presents a valuable "third way" to Muslims caught between minority extremists and an often ignorant, paranoid West that can't tell the difference between them.
If nothing else, the book helps dispel such lump assumptions. Just as there are many different sects and schools of thought in Islam, there are many types (or tariqas) within Sufism. Some are rather staid and conservative, the "sober" Sufis as he calls them. Others are remarkably progressive and liberal, like the Bektashis, who advocate gender equality. I kept looking up names, places, and events he would mention briefly about such things because I wanted to know more. In that way, this is a great jumping-off point for further study.
Another positive was his "demystification" of this mystical Islamic branch, in the sense of pop-culture trends. The five-minute college class lesson on Sufism (which I am certainly guilty of possessing) is basically whirling dervishes and Rumi. This short-sighted abbreviation of something much more complicated and deep has lead to Sufism's inclusion in western New Age spirituality, turning it into a fashionable, cheap enlightenment tool like Kabbalah, much to the author's chagrin. As he points out, in many places it is dangerous and even life-threatening to be a Sufi, and it can be insulting when over-privileged westerners adopt it like a costume in some facile attempt to "find themselves." He does not judge however, those who pursue Sufism out of a genuine desire to know God.
In the end this book was more a tantalizing start to something bigger, which is still praise-worthy. In addition to the tariqas mentioned above, he touched on the interesting crossover between the mystical traditions within Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, all of which either started or surged in popularity around the same time (11th-13th centuries). This is a curious and apparently neglected area of study by most scholars of all three religions.
This is also not some propaganda piece hoping to use a diluted, western-friendly philosophy to pacify the Islamaphobes at the expense of other Muslim sects. The author is upfront about being a Sufi himself, and warns against seeing Sufism as a "cure" for radical Islam, or a PR tool for American politicians in their various and sundry military expeditions abroad. "Using" a religion like this will always produce bad fruit; its adherents will eventually see through the facade. Nevertheless, he also makes the case that Sufism presents a valuable "third way" to Muslims caught between minority extremists and an often ignorant, paranoid West that can't tell the difference between them.
If nothing else, the book helps dispel such lump assumptions. Just as there are many different sects and schools of thought in Islam, there are many types (or tariqas) within Sufism. Some are rather staid and conservative, the "sober" Sufis as he calls them. Others are remarkably progressive and liberal, like the Bektashis, who advocate gender equality. I kept looking up names, places, and events he would mention briefly about such things because I wanted to know more. In that way, this is a great jumping-off point for further study.
Another positive was his "demystification" of this mystical Islamic branch, in the sense of pop-culture trends. The five-minute college class lesson on Sufism (which I am certainly guilty of possessing) is basically whirling dervishes and Rumi. This short-sighted abbreviation of something much more complicated and deep has lead to Sufism's inclusion in western New Age spirituality, turning it into a fashionable, cheap enlightenment tool like Kabbalah, much to the author's chagrin. As he points out, in many places it is dangerous and even life-threatening to be a Sufi, and it can be insulting when over-privileged westerners adopt it like a costume in some facile attempt to "find themselves." He does not judge however, those who pursue Sufism out of a genuine desire to know God.
In the end this book was more a tantalizing start to something bigger, which is still praise-worthy. In addition to the tariqas mentioned above, he touched on the interesting crossover between the mystical traditions within Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, all of which either started or surged in popularity around the same time (11th-13th centuries). This is a curious and apparently neglected area of study by most scholars of all three religions.
June 25, 2017
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2788630.html
A book about Sufism, tracing it from beginning to the present day, linking together various things of which I was aware and in which I was already interested (the Bektashi, Rūmī, the whirling dervishes, Said Nursî) into a longer historical narrative.
Unfortunately it's not all that good. to start with it's a work of apologetics written by a true believer, viewing events and people jumbled together through a partisan lens. A lot of effort is spent on denouncing Wahhabism (fair enough, but that then means you don't let your own people stand on their own merits). The net of historical adherents to Sufism is cast rather with, including some people who I suspect had never heard of it in reality. The narrative is curiously unmoored from the wider historical context. the explanation of Sufist ideas seemed relatively clear, but I was irritated by the failure to link it convincingly to other things I know about. I'm sure there are better books about Sufism out there, and I'll keep an eye out for them.
A book about Sufism, tracing it from beginning to the present day, linking together various things of which I was aware and in which I was already interested (the Bektashi, Rūmī, the whirling dervishes, Said Nursî) into a longer historical narrative.
Unfortunately it's not all that good. to start with it's a work of apologetics written by a true believer, viewing events and people jumbled together through a partisan lens. A lot of effort is spent on denouncing Wahhabism (fair enough, but that then means you don't let your own people stand on their own merits). The net of historical adherents to Sufism is cast rather with, including some people who I suspect had never heard of it in reality. The narrative is curiously unmoored from the wider historical context. the explanation of Sufist ideas seemed relatively clear, but I was irritated by the failure to link it convincingly to other things I know about. I'm sure there are better books about Sufism out there, and I'll keep an eye out for them.
August 23, 2012
WHile there is some good stuff in this book, particularly at the beginning where he provides a rough history of Sufi Islam, he spends the better part of the book focusing on his own interactions with Sufis and their shrines, rather than offer a detailed account of the faith they practice and the persecution they suffer.
I do like his thesis about the need for Westerners to work with Sufis as a bulwark against Islamic extremism, but this seems more like a long magazine article which he strained to extend into a book. And he could make a very good long magazine article -- or shorter book.
I do like his thesis about the need for Westerners to work with Sufis as a bulwark against Islamic extremism, but this seems more like a long magazine article which he strained to extend into a book. And he could make a very good long magazine article -- or shorter book.
May 16, 2021
The counter argument to the Two Faces of Islam. This book is exclusively about Sufi and mystical Islam. The author's main argument was that Sufi Islam is the key at defeating militant Wahhabi extremists.
June 29, 2009
I need to check this out again and finish it. It was difficult for me to read; I feel that it wasn't well laid out and didn't flow well historically.
January 7, 2018
A wonderful book that connects the ancient chain of Sufism to modern link which is quite unknown. A must read for any one who wants to understand humanity.
December 11, 2014
The Other Islam: Sufism and the Road to Global Harmony by Stephen Schwartz is a reminder about the dangers of generalization and closed-mindedness. Now that the Russian Commie menace has been subdued, we are all encouraged to hate and fear Islam. But Islam is multi-faceted and diverse. It is certainly reasonable to be concerned about the Wahhabi jihadists. But there are dozens of other manifestations of Islam and we owe it to ourselves to become informed about the opposite end of the spectrum. Sufism, a little-known sect of Islam, is based on love, acceptance and tolerance. It is ecumenical, diverse and global. Schwartz urges an effort to reach out to Sufis and attempt to build bridges of understanding and cooperation in order to counteract the insanity of religious fundamentalism and the poisonous notion of spiritual exclusivity. In a sea of jingoistic intolerance and misinformation the Sufis are a hopeful voice for harmony. At present the voice is but a whisper. Much grief and suffering can be avoided if we would only open our minds and hearts to listen. Schwartz’s book is based not only on extensive scholarly research and wide-ranging travel to scared Islamic sites, but also on interviews with Islamic scholars and leaders.
March 3, 2015
This book is an excellent introduction to Sufi Islam, the mystical tradition that is often discussed, but about which I have found very limited resources in English. The book discusses the history of Sufism, some of the main branches of Sufi Islam today, and how Sufis can promote a more moderate Islam. The author also discusses the attacks by Wahhabi Muslims against Sufis. I highly recommend the book as an introduction to anyone interested in Sufism, or Islam more generally. However, I thought the book was a little too detailed for the general reader in some places. Also, the author appears to live in the Balkans, and he focused very much on Sufism in Balkan countries. While this was interesting, it was unclear whether Sufism is particularly common in this region, or if the author was simply focusing on his area of expertise.
November 6, 2013
it's hard enough to find a book that talks about sufism. ugh.
pretty western focused. looking at it, i figured it would just be more of an accessible history of sufism that i could give to people. nope. it's completely aimed at the global north, and is afraid to challenge anything. if you wanna read a shitty weak-kneed text that talks about sufism like it's a high school social studies project, here's your shit.
pretty western focused. looking at it, i figured it would just be more of an accessible history of sufism that i could give to people. nope. it's completely aimed at the global north, and is afraid to challenge anything. if you wanna read a shitty weak-kneed text that talks about sufism like it's a high school social studies project, here's your shit.
December 29, 2011
As a person who previously knew nothing about Sufism, I found this book to be very helpful. The writing was informative, but not so academic that it was dry. The book did leave me with more questions about Sufism than I had when I started, but perhaps that's a good thing...
Read
February 7, 2014I enjoyed Schwarts effort to advance Sufism as both an alternative to radicals and a bridge between Islam and other religions.
August 21, 2015
I thought that the book was good but wished he would expand more on how to practically get involved in a tariqa.
stopped-reading
May 14, 2014another one of those books I lost interest in quickly..
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews