Muslim Women Mystics: The Life and Work of Rabi'a and Other Women Mystics in Islam (Great Muslim Thinkers) Paperback – July 30, 2001

Not easy to find a book like this... that focuses on the Muslim women mystics. Very well-written, well-investigated and thorough in historical references and context. Enjoying the sections about Rabia now..

Wish there had been more poetry, less biography.Very enlightening to read of female mystics of centurys gone by! (Rabia 700 C.E.)

I did not enjoy Muslim Women Mystics: The Life and Work of Rabi’a and Other Women Mystics in Islam by Margaret Smith. She begins by stating that the book is her graduate dissertation, which bothered me since I paid quite a bit for it only to discover its true nature. This should have been displayed in the advertisement, so I felt misled. The book lacks quality, reading more like research filled with large segments of other people's work. Her choice of language is poor and not easy to read; for instance, she uses old English words like "thou" and "shalt," which detract from the book's authenticity and potential (it’s an overkill literary throughout the whole book). The book has no clear story outline and is challenging to follow.What disappointed me the most was her take on the mystic Rabi’a, which felt very contradictory. She describes Rabi’a as divine but uses examples that fail to portray her commitment to God appropriately, instead highlighting her rudeness in telling suitors to "get lost." This portrayal made me question whether Smith understands Rabi’a's devotion. Although Smith likely intended to emphasize Rabi’a’s dedication, it comes off as poorly written. This book is quite pricey, and I did not find it worth the cost.Muslim Women Mystics was a disappointing read. Its academic tone and disjointed narrative make it a chore to get through, and the poor language choices further detract from the experience. For the price, I expected a authentic and an insightful exploration of these fascinating mystic women, but this book did not deliver. I will not purchase from this author again and cannot recommend this book to others.

I love any book celebrating women and their strength in spirituality/religion/mysticism. This book is must have for any woman seeking to learn more of these powerful women. These are the feminine "rumi's"

I was disappointed by the author prejudice against Islam. Even though she has done a lot of research on Muslim mystic women, she has omitted many powerful references in which both the prophe has emphasized the importance of treating women with respect, mercy and kindness. Her presentation of women's rights in Islam was clearly lopsided and unprofessional. I was left feeling frustrated at the false image she was trying to portray of Muslim women.

Didn't learn anything new. You can pretty much find all the information on the web.