Description

Folio (180 x 250 mm). 62 ff. Arabic manuscript on paper. 25 lines of black naskh script with important words and phrases picked out in red. 19th century leather-backed boards with fore-edge flap. An early manuscript copy of this well-respected Sufi guide to the devout life, also known as "The High Road of Worshippers" or "The Path of the Worshipful Servants". Its author, Muhammed ibn Muhammed at-Tusi al-Ghazali (1058-1111), was one of the greatest figures of the Golden Age of Islam, famed for his theology, legal theories, philosophy, and works on logic. Al-Ghazali has been called the single most influential Muslim after the prophet Muhammed, and a "Mujaddid", or Renewer of the Faith. His works were so highly acclaimed by his contemporaries that al-Ghazali was awarded the honorific title "Proof of Islam" ("Hujjat al-Islam"). - Like many of al-Ghazali's important theological writings, The Path of Worshippers is part of al-Ghazali's contribution to the development of a systematic view of Sufism and to the integration and acceptance of Sufism in mainstream Islam. - Some waterstaining throughout. Binding shows some exterior wear, professionally repaired. A good early copy. - Cf. GAL I, 423, no. 38; S I, 751.