The American University of Beirut (AUB) Press announced the latest addition to the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Series on Arabic and Islamic Texts and Studies: a groundbreaking study titled Poetry and Spiritual Insights: A Study and Edition of Kitāb al-Shawāhid wa-l-Amthāl by Abū Naṣr al-Qushayrī (d. 514/1120), presented by Professors Bilal Orfali, Ramzi Baalbaki, and Francesco Chiabotti. Based on the Ayasofya 4128 manuscript from Turkey, this volume illuminates Qushayrī’s influential work, renowned for embedding Sufi teachings within the framework of adab—a synthesis of literary and ethical traditions—appealing to scholars and general audiences alike.
This publication brings to light the role of Kitab al-Shawāhid wa-l-Amthāl in weaving Sufism into the cultural and scholarly landscape of medieval Islam. Qushayrī’s innovative use of both oral and written forms to communicate Sufi doctrines, blending poetry with accessible language, effectively “translated” complex mystical concepts for the literati and religious scholars of his time. “This work, which took over a decade to complete, offers a crucial lens on Sufi poetry’s unique role in bridging the mystical and the literary,” shared Orfali.
Through Kitab al-Shawāhid, readers are invited to explore how Sufi teachings evolved within the sophisticated intellectual society of Nishapur, enriching the tradition’s adaptability and resonance across audiences. Baalbaki underscores the value of publishing Arabic manuscripts as “an essential contribution to preserving the textual heritage of Islamic culture,” while Chiabotti highlights Kitab al-Shawāhid’s significance within Sufism, “a spiritual tradition with profound global impact and relevance.”
The authors’ meticulous study of Kitab al-Shawāhid not only provides an essential resource for understanding the dynamics of language, spirituality, and adaptation in medieval Islamic society but also advances scholarly discourse on the enduring legacy of Sufi poetry within Islamic culture.
The book will be launched during the 66th Beirut Arab International Book Fair during May 2025. For further details on this volume and other titles in the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Series, please visit the AUB Press official website.
About AUB
Founded in 1866, the American University of Beirut bases its educational philosophy, standards, and practices on the American liberal arts model of higher education. A teaching-centered research university, AUB has more than 790 full-time faculty members and a student body of over 9000 students. AUB currently offers more than 140 programs leading to bachelor’s, master’s, MD, and PhD degrees. It provides medical education and training to students from throughout the region at its Medical Center that includes a full-service 365-bed hospital.
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