Science of the Cosmos, Science of the Soul: The Pertinence of Islamic Cosmology in the Modern World

If you want to study and better understand Islamic subjects in general, and especially if you are in need of reliable scholarly work for research, then read everything by William C. Chittick. Need I say more? Chittck and S. H. Nasr are amongst the best in this genre, although of-course, we must do our own due-diligence, for I do not necessarily endorse all of their findings, especially that (THUS FAR, I keep coming across this puzzle, asking myself if indeed) they belong to a generation that seems unable to appreciate the rise of greater Muslim scholarship in this new era... They seem to have difficulties in embracing newer visions, and in general often express a kind of complaint and decline in true Islamic genius and scholarship, whilst praising the ancients and calling for a kind of revival of the old... This dimension of their dissent is something I have trouble with, for I am in general more optimistic of certain aspects of Islamic Mysticism, which is the mark of the new era, which in a way actually appreciates and praises also such scholars who themselves seem disappointed with the new students of Islamic studies... However, everything they write is important, and they deserve the highest respect and honor for their dedication.

Clearly it's going to be very tough to convey the centrality of an "ethereal" innate consciousness through the limited "transmitted" medium of a book. But Chiddick manages to accomplish just that. This is a transformational book without using the usual forms of a novel or else pithy, inspirational and emotional content. Chiddick manages to balance the scholarly and analytic with the mystic and evocative thus capturing the spirit of the very Islamic intellectual tradition that he seeks to describe and revive. The book can be finished in a couple of hours if the subject ie the reader and the object Ie the book are divided and distinct. But if one truly immerses oneself, and the observer and observed become one, as in traditional scholarship, then this book should take a couple of weeks. That is the respect due to it. This is not a book for the novice, but for those who have pondered and witnessed mysticism.

Divinely inspired reading; sublime, rigorous and poignant in the rendering of God the Merciful! God the REAL ! and I repeat God the One.

Among the many other interesting perspectives in this book, I found the author's description of Islam's perspective on knowledge and knowledge acquisition to be intriguing. I am not an expert in the field so I can not critique the accuracy of the content.

A transformational book--just started reading it (for the third time in two months)!

I've just finished reading this fabulous work of W. Chittick and I think that he has reached his purpose; it' a really inspiring book which oneself to reflect about Islam, its tradition and what it is its object. I have read some books of W. Chittick, including Sufi Path of Knowledge, The Self Disclosure of God, Imaginal Worlds, and his quality as translator shows his great compression about Islam. And also "Vision of Islam" which he wrote with Sachiko Murata its a must read for everyone who wants to know what Islam really means, specially for converts like me I think it very profitable. But this works goes a little bit farther. This compilation and re-elaboration of talk and paper on Sufism and Islamic philosophy it's, in fact, a real light to follow in dark times. He takes out a lot of veils that the modern world has put on traditional though and shows what it is the importance of the traditional way in our days, specially what Islam can give back to our thirsty souls. I know that Chittick doesn't mentions him in his book, but I can feel that this is the legacy of Rene Guenon, put in the Islamic way this book follows the mains tenets of "Reign of Quantity". Maybe it's not so deep -some guenonian may put some points on it, but it doesn't matter-, but I think that this is a great job done for showing that it is possible to find a way back and to find solutions to our situation (as humankind) and that still there is hope in the places where the men of the unseen keep contact with the ones who have enough spiritual aspiration. for me shows also that W. Chittick has gone farther than an "simple" Orientalist, and has reached the core of what he was studying. May God reward him for this great book, and may God keep him being a tool in His hands giving us -the people who doesn't have his maestri in Arabic, Persian and his deep understanding of Islamic tradition- the light that his works spare. thank you. Nuruddin "the one who doesn't thanks the creature does not thank God"

Chittick begins this masterful and needed book crushing all of our false idols. In a matter of a few pages democracy, freedom, progress, and "science" are shown to be our idols and then they are systematically destroyed. How many of us have tried to see if God is compatible with these pseudo-Absolutes. Surely if God and our new idols are incompatible, we know which one must go. Do you think like this? I think Chittick has a few words for you. In this book Chittick proposes that most of the ills of modern society, even things we sometimes don't think of as ills, have everything to do with the way we view the world. In making God totally other than the world, we have denuded the world of its sacred character, and in some sense, set up others besides God. The doctrine of Wahdat Al-Wujud, though Chittick points out was not accepted by "mainstream" theologians, is in fact tawhid through and through. "Wherever ye turn there is the face of God" Chittick explains in this book how this is the case. Attending a conference on this book I found many people wanting a "So what? What do I do now?" as if the truth itself is not an ends. I have a firm belief that the cosmology in this book has the power to transform societies if adopted at large. I am also quite certain that that will not be the case. But as Socrates said if you can't live in the ideal city, surely you can make it live in your heart.

Easy to understand but deep explanation of key trends in Islamic thought today and how they relate to the Islamic heritage. Very well written and full of useful ideas pertaining to all peoples, not just Muslims.

Excellent book for those who want to get good insight, knowledge and guide about the sufi path.