The very heart of the Islamic tradition is love; no other word adequately captures the quest for transformation that lies at this tradition's center. So argues esteemed professor of medieval Islam William C. Chittick in this survey of the extensive Arabic and Persian literature on topics ranging from the Qur'an up through the twelfth century. Bringing to light extensive foundational Persian sources never before presented, Chittick draws on more than...

"Exploring the fundamental religious beliefs held by Muslims for nearly 1400 years, The Vision of Islam covers the four dimensions of Islam as outlined in the Hadith of Gabriel: practice, faith, spirituality, and the Islamic view of history. Interweaving teachings from the Koran, the sayings of the Prophet, and the great authorities of the tradition, the authors introduce the essential of each dimension, then go on to describe how each has been manifest...