Introduction: perspectives on Early Islamic Mysticism ? the world of al-?ak?m al-Tirmidh? and his contemporaries

Part I Asceticism and mysticism (zuhd and ta?awwuf)



1. ‘Sufism’: reconsidering terms, definitions and processes



2. Zuhd in Islamic mysticism: conduct and attitude



3. "Wa-rahb?niyyatan ibtada??h?": monasticism and asceticism ? false and sincere



Part II Schools and teachers



4. Al-?ak?m al-Tirmidh? and the Mal?mat?s of N?sh?p?r



5. Teachers and disciples in Baghd?d and N?sh?p?r



6. Facing hostility in Transoxiana: Al-?ak?m al-Tirmidh? and Mu?ammad ibn al-Fa?l



Part III Polarity



7. Between fear and hope: coincidence of opposites in Islamic mysticism



8. The self (nafs) and her transformation



9. Faces of al-?aqq: the name and the named



Part IV The Spiritual Hierarchy



10. Wil?ya: contemplating friendship with God



11. Myrtle and holy men: echoes of ancient traditions in a woman’s dream



Part V Language and Hermeneutics



12. The power of words: mystical linguistics in al-?ak?m al-Tirmidh?



13. The Countless Faces of Understanding: Istinb??, listening and exegesis



Bibliography