Islamic Mysticism and Abu Talib Al-Makki

Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (d. 505/1111) is ubiquitously deemed as one of the most influential medieval figures and his monographs, in various domains of Islamic scholarship and in particular Sufism, are essential reading. However, crucial questions still persist as to the pivotal figures that may have influenced the Ghazalian Sufi-centric synthesis in his Ihya’ [ulum al-din (The revival of the religious sciences; henceforth Ihya’). Ghazali informs the reader in his autobiography al-Munqidh min al-dalal (Deliverance from error) that he benefited from the magnum opus of Abu Talib al-Makki (d.386/996), Qut al-qulub (The nourishment of hearts; henceforth Qut). Furthermore, it has been argued that the Qut was the archetypal and kernel foundation which Ghazali utilized in order to compose his own Ihya’. Abu Talib al-Makki is profoundly venerated within the Sufi scholastic tradition, where his influence is deeply entrenched. Consequently, it is utterly astonishing that research into this influential Sufi figure is essentially non-existent in western academic circles apart from a few sparse explorations as Saeko Yazaki illustrates ‘…few studies have carried out a critical analysis of al-Makki and his work, and no single monograph has yet been published on the subject.’ (p. 2) Yazaki’s critical and erudite monograph attempts not only toimpart an intricate exposition of the role and the importance of the ‘heart’ within the thought of Abu Talib al-Makki but also to initiate the discipline of Makkian studies by elaborating several themes as prospectivetrajectories for further multifaceted and meticulous research. The monograph is a revised version of Yazaki’s doctorate thesis submitted to the University of Edinburgh and consists of an introduction, nine chapters and a conclusion.