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The Path of Muhammad
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Path of Muhammad, The: A Book on Islamic Morals and Ethics
Path of Muhammad, The: A Book on Islamic Morals and Ethics
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Author(s): 
Subjects(s): 
Islam
Sufism

Price:  $21.95

ISBN:  0-941532-68-2
Book Size:  6" x 9"
# of Pages:  368
Language:  English



Description
This is a centuries-old text by a 16th-century Turkish Sufi and scholar, Imam Birgivi. It has been translated for the first time into English by Shaykh Tosun Bayrak, who has also "interpreted" the text. Through numerous references to the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, the book portrays the beauty and depth of the Prophet’s character and the excellence of his example for followers of God in all times and places. The Path of Muhammad is accompanied by another, shorter text, The Last Will and Testament by Imam Birgivi. Together, these two texts range through traditional Islamic views on the nature of God, revelation, angels, prophethood, religious duties, virtue, faith, mysticism, the nature of knowledge, and many more topics. From lofty considerations on, for example, the nature of evil, to earth-bound considerations on, as another example, how to spend money, Imam Birgivi's texts always show readers how they can purify their minds, hearts, and bodies. This incredible compendium of moral and spiritual topics, all seen through the eyes of a traditional Sufi and scholar, always hearkens back to the earliest sources of the Islamic faith (i.e., the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet) in order to "remind you of your own departure from this world, and help in your salvation."
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Detailed Description of The Path of Muhammad


This is a centuries-old text by a 16th-century Turkish Sufi and scholar, Imam Birgivi. It has been translated for the first time into English by Shaykh Tosun Bayrak, who has also "interpreted" the text. Through numerous references to the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, the book portrays the beauty and depth of the Prophet’s character and the excellence of his example for followers of God in all times and places. The Path of Muhammad is accompanied by another, shorter text, The Last Will and Testament by Imam Birgivi. Together, these two texts range through traditional Islamic views on the nature of God, revelation, angels, prophethood, religious duties, virtue, faith, mysticism, the nature of knowledge, and many more topics. From lofty considerations on, for example, the nature of evil, to earth-bound considerations on, as another example, how to spend money, Imam Birgivi's texts always show readers how they can purify their minds, hearts, and bodies. This incredible compendium of moral and spiritual topics, all seen through the eyes of a traditional Sufi and scholar, always hearkens back to the earliest sources of the Islamic faith (i.e., the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet) in order to "remind you of your own departure from this world, and help in your salvation."

The Path of Muhammad includes a foreword by Shaykh Abdul Mabud and an introduction by Vincent Cornell.


About the Author(s)

Imam Birgivi

Imam Birgivi was an Ottoman Muslim scholar and moralist who was born in 1522. (His name at birth was Muhammad ibn Pir Ali.) His book on Islamic morals and ethics, now published for the first time in English as The Path of Muhammad, has been influential throughout the Muslim world, where it is still being used as a text in important faculties of theology and in universities. Imam Birgivi was a theologian, an expert in Islamic law, and a dervish in the Bayramiyyah order. Through the 27books that he wrote and his prominence as a teacher, Imam Birgivi became very well known during his lifetime. Imam Birgivi's ideal was an Islamic society such as it was at the time of the Prophet Muhammad, a model he felt was ageless and valid for all times.

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Tosun Bayrak

Shaykh Tosun Bayrak al-Jerrahi is a Sufi master of the Halveti-Jerrahi order. He has also translated, edited, and written numerous books on Islamic spirituality. Among his books are The Name and the Named: The Divine Attributes of God, What the Seeker Needs: Essays on Spiritual Practice, Oneness, Majesty and Beauty (by Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi), The Secret of Secrets (by Hadrat Abdul Qadir Al-Jilani), and Divine Governance of the Human Kingdom (by Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi).

Shaykh Tosun Bayrak interpreted the 16th-century book by Imam Birgivi on Islamic morals, values, and spirituality, The Path of Muhammad.

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Shaykh Abdul Mabud

Dr. Shaykh Abdul Mabud is the Director General of the Islamic Academy in Cambridge, England. A graduate of the University of Cambridge, Dr. Mabud also has a Masters degree from the University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. He is the editor of Muslim Education Quarterly, and has written several books. He is the director of a major research project on curriculum and textbooks at the primary and secondary levels in Bangladesh and has also worked with other Muslim organizations both in England and abroad. Dr. Mabud lives in Cambridge.

Dr. Mabud wrote the foreword to The Path Of Muhammad: A Book On Islamic Morals And Ethics , by Imam Birgivi interpreted by Shaykh Tosun Bayrak .


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Reviews of The Path of Muhammad

The Path Of Muhammad. A Book On Islamic Morals And Ethics is the first complete translation and interpretation of a manuscript composed in the 16th century by Sufi scholar Imam Birgivi, still used today as an Arabic text in numerous universities throughout the Islamic world. A classic text of Islamic spirituality that delineates rules for living in accordance with Muhammad's teachings, The Path Of Muhammad was meant to serve as an example for all Muslims to follow. It also provides a unique reference for comparing ethical tenets of Islam to that of other religions. Though the passage of centuries, let alone the gulfs between cultures may alter how The Path Of Muhammad is perceived today, it nonetheless stands as a ground-breaking text in successive generations’ struggles to codify morality and responsible behavior. Also included in this remarkable volume is a copy of “The Last Will and Testament” (Vasiyyetname) of Imam Birgivi, a summary of his life's teachings.

Midwest Book Review



“This incredible compendium of moral and spiritual topics, all seen through the eyes of a traditional Sufi and scholar, always hearkens back to the earliest sources of the Islamic faith, i.e., the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet. In our day, which is characterized by a great misunderstanding of Islam, this work outlines the ideal of an Islamic society at the time of the Prophet Muhammad.”
Banyen Books and Sound



“This long-awaited classic of Islamic spirituality fulfills important needs in scholarship of the history of Sufism and in the contemporary search for spiritual direction in today’s troubled world…In an era of rampant fundamentalism and simplistic and politicized responses to the world’s problems, this work reminds us that the greater struggle is within ourselves, and that the life of the body cannot be improved without the transformation of the soul.”

Vincent J. Cornell, University of Arkansas



"Originally written in Arabic under the title of al-Tariqah al-Muhammadiyyah (The Path of Muhammad), this book is used as a basic textbook on Islamic moral and ethical teachings at many universities in the Muslim world, but thanks to Shaykh Bayrak al-Jerrahi al-Halveti, it is now available in English translation for the first time. It also incorporates Imam Birgivi's Vasiyyetname, or his last will and testament, which summarizes his entire moral and ethical teachings in just over fifty pages.

Imam Birgivi was an orthodox Islamic scholar who emphasized the moral and spiritual teachings of Islam at a time when materialistic values and attitude had gripped the Ottoman State like never before. Following in the footsteps of Abu Hamid al-Ghazzali, who wrote his famous Ihya 'Ulum al-Din (Re-vivification of the Religious Sciences), and Ibn Hazm al-Andalusi, who also wrote his Kitab Akhlaq wa'l Siyar (Book of Morality and Behaviour), back in the eleventh century, Imam Birgivi worked tirelessly to revive the moral and spiritual teachings of Islam within the Ottoman State in the sixteenth century. His Vasiyyetname, consisting of pages 1 to 56 of the above book, provides one of the most detailed descriptions of the Prophet, his character, morals and manners I have yet to read. Today we are living at a very difficult and challenging time, when the political and ideological dimension of Islam is frequently invoked by radicals in many parts of the Muslim world, often at the expense of the moral, ethical, and spiritual teachings of Islam. They seek to justify their crimes and atrocities by twisting the teachings of the Qur'an and Prophet. In this gem of a book, Imam Birgivi however reminds us that Islam, based on the Qur'an and the sunnah, the normative practice of the Prophet, is, first and foremost, a religion of peace and humanity rather than bloodshed and killing.

The Prophet Muhammad, who exemplified both the exoteric and esoteric dimensions of Islam at its best, never failed to emphasise the importance of being patient and steadfast in the face of hardship, suffering and adversity. He also reminded us that God will put each and everyone one of us through tests, trials and tribulation at different times, and that those who patiently persevere will ultimately prevail. At times of happiness and joy, the Prophet used to praise and glorify God most profusely, and he advised all Muslims to do likewise, for only those who are grateful will attain Divine pleasure, here and in the hereafter.

Consisting of twenty-seven short chapters, in this remarkable book, Imam Birgivi has summarized the beauty and essence of the Prophet's teachings for everyone to learn and follow. Many years ago, I read a small book, entitled The Lantern of the Path (Dorset, 1989) by Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, the great Muslim scholar and sage who lived in the eighth century in Madinah, which I found to be a powerful exposition of Islamic moral, ethical and spiritual teachings. Imam Birgivi's book reads almost like a commentary on that book.

I recommend this book to all Muslims, especially the younger generation, who today find themselves at a crossroad. This book provides a powerful and compelling insight into the life and teachings of the Prophet who showed us how to live in peace with God's creation and spread goodness on earth, and in so doing he became, in the words of the Qur'an, a `mercy for the universe'."

Muhammad Khan, for The Muslim News



"This influential text…has appeal for a wide-ranging audience: ethicists, students of religion and spirituality, and those who are interested in learning about the ethical and moral ideals of Islam, an issue perhaps never as pertinent as today.…This text carries a strong appeal for a modern reader. More importantly, the readers whose interest in ethics goes beyond intellectual and academic deliberations alone will find this text equally rewarding, and even much more. For the richness and the diversity of the moral issues considered, the conceptual nuances displayed throughout, and the practicality of the advice offered, this text seems to have few equals. Highly recommended."

Virginia Quarterly Review



"On the whole this is a good book for the preachers of Islam to acquire. Shaykh Tosun Bayrak has rendered it great service by translating this book into English."
Muslim Education Quarterly




Table of Contents for The Path of Muhammad

ON THE AUTHOR, IMAM BIRGIVI
I.       THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
II.      THE PATH OF MUHAMMAD (s.a.w.s.)
         On Holding Firm to the Holy Book and The Traditions of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.)
         On Pernicious Innovations
         On Economy in Deeds
         Elements of Belief
         On Knowledge
         On Righteousness
         On the Denial of God
         On Self-Indulgence and Blind Imitation
         On Sanctimony and Hypocrisy On Ambition
         On Identifying Evil
         On Arrogance and Humility
         On Envy
         On Anger
         On Forbearance
         Relating to the goods of this world
         On Money: How to use it and Not to waste it
         On Careless Haste
         On Hopelessness
         The Use of the Tongue
         On Listening
         On Looking
         On Touching
         On Eating and Drinking
         On Sex
         On Coming and Going
         Other Private and Social Offenses to be Avoided
AFTERWORD


Selection from our Library about The Path of Muhammad
 TitleSourceAuthor 1Author 2Subject WW HTMLWW PDFExternal Link
On ForbearanceThe Path of Muhammad: A Book on Islamic Morals and Ethics by Imam BirgiviBirgivi, ImamBayrak, TosunIslam
On AngerThe Path of Muhammad: A Book on Islamic Morals and Ethics by Imam BirgiviBirgivi, ImamBayrak, TosunIslam
On EnvyThe Path of Muhammad: A Book on Islamic Morals and Ethics by Imam BirgiviBirgivi, ImamBayrak, TosunIslam
On Arrogance and HumilityThe Path of Muhammad: A Book on Islamic Morals and Ethics by Imam BirgiviBirgivi, ImamBayrak, TosunIslam
 4 entries (Displaying results 1 - 4) View : Jump to: Page: of 1 pages
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