https://archive.org/details/understandingisl0000schu
Follow the Author
Frithjof Schuon
Follow
Understanding Islam: A New Translation with Selected Letters Paperback – Illustrated, 30 September 2011
by Frithjof Schuon (Author), Annemarie Schimmel (Foreword), Patrick Laude (Editor)
4.9 out of 5 stars 13 ratings
Part of: Writings of Frithjof Schuon (9 books)
See all formats and editions
Kindle
$13.87Read with Our Free App
Paperback
$32.58
7 New from $32.58
With over one billion believers throughout the globe, Islam remains one of the most misunderstood of the world's great Revelations. In this fully revised and amended translation of his masterpiece, philosopher Frithjof Schuon offers readers a deeper understanding of Islam, the world's second largest religion. Featuring an extensive appendix of previously unpublished materials and detailed editor's notes to aid readers, this book is a must for any collection.
Report incorrect product information.
Part of series
Writings of Frithjof Schuon
Print length
272 pages
Product description
Review
With misunderstanding comes great fear. "Understanding Islam" is a reprinting and revised translation of Frithjof Schuon's previous work surrounding the nature of Islam and why it has attracted a billion and a half followers. World renown for its scholarly nature that sheds light on this controversial faith, this updated edition contains 77 pages of new material, editor's notes, glossaries, and more. "Understanding Islam" is a core and much recommended addition to community and college religious studies collections.-- "Midwest Book Review"
Product details
ASIN : 1935493906
Publisher : World Wisdom; Illustrated edition (30 September 2011)
Language : English
Paperback : 272 pages
4.9 out of 5 stars 13 ratings
======
Top reviews
Top reviews from other countries
Dalakouras
5.0 out of 5 stars The best book on Islamic metaphysics ever.Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on 21 September 2019
Verified Purchase
This must be the most brilliant book on Islam in English language. Beautiful, concise, impregnated with wisdom and wit. Read it slowly and read it again, so many multilayered insights therein...Definitely not an introduction and definitely not for beginners, it requires deep knowledge of both Islam and Perennial Metaphysics. Written by a sage at his most lucid period - alas, before his controversial Featherd Sun era.
Report
Jacob W
5.0 out of 5 stars Advanced IslamReviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 1 April 2022
Verified Purchase
I have spent many years researching Islam and traveling to Muslim countries and even for me this was a tough one. This is the type of book where you have to be able to sit down and have no distractions at all and be okay with the idea that you're going to have to read the same paragraph over and over until you get it. I would say this is about as academic of a quick read as you can get on this subject. Just the first half of the book made me understand the Shahada in a way that I never looked at it before. I would absolutely recommend this book but you have been warned, if you don't have a thorough understanding of Islam before reading this you may end up totally lost.
Report
Understanding Islam
Frithjof Schuon
4.10
241 ratings34 reviews
"Islam is the meeting between God as such and man as such.... Islam confronts what is immutable in God with what is permanent in man."
These are the opening words of what has become a classic work on Islam, perhaps the most misunderstood of the great Revelations. And yet the purpose of this book "is not so much to give a description of Islam as to explain . . . why Moslems believe in it." Both Westerners unfamiliar with Islam and Moslems seeking a deeper understanding of the basis of faith will be struck by Schuon's masterful elucidation of the spiritual world of Islam.
Schuon's foundation is always the intrinsic nature of things rather than any confessional point of view. This perspective opens up new avenues of approach and surprising insights into the "five pillars" of faith, the Quran, the Sunna, the Prophet and the esoteric dimension which is the kernel of Moslem spirituality. A hallmark of the author's perspective is an intellectual universality, which in examining a given religious framework readily draws upon parallels and concepts from other traditions, especially that of the Vedanta. For "what is needed in our time, and indeed in every age remote from the origins of Revelation, is . . . to rediscover the truths written in an eternal script in the very substance of man's spirit."
--
204 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1961
Original title
Comprendre l'Islam
This edition
Format
204 pages, Paperback
Published
September 6, 2003 by World Wisdom Books
ISBN
9780941532242 (ISBN10: 0941532240)
Language
English
More editions
Items 1 to 5 of 19
35 people are currently reading
714 people want to read
Frithjof Schuon
196 books193 followers
Follow
Frithjof Schuon was a native of Switzerland born to German parents in Basel, Switzerland. He is known as a philosopher, metaphysician and author of numerous books on religion and spirituality.
Schuon is recognized as an authority on philosophy, spirituality and religion, an exponent of the Religio Perennis, and one of the chief representatives of the Perennialist School. Though he was not officially affiliated with the academic world, his writings have been noticed in scholarly and philosophical journals, and by scholars of comparative religion and spirituality. Criticism of the relativism of the modern academic world is one of the main aspects of Schuon's teachings. In his teachings, Schuon expresses his faith in an absolute principle, God, who governs the universe and to whom our souls would return after death. For Schuon the great revelations are the link between this absolute principle—God—and mankind. He wrote the main bulk of his metaphysical teachings in French. In the later years of his life Schuon composed some volumes of poetry in his mother tongue, German. His articles in French were collected in about twenty titles in French which were later translated into English as well as many other languages.
http://www.sophia-perennis.com/philos...
========
Community Reviews
4.10
Displaying 1 - 10 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Tim.
Tim
296 reviews
289 followers
Follow
March 5, 2023
(Original Review November 2013)
There are metaphysical concepts in this work which makes it something other than an introduction to Islam. Yet one does not have to necessarily be familiar with all the ritualistic practices of Islam to read it. This is a book that dives into the basic symbols of Islam and relates those symbols to universal truths in a metaphysical way. So anyone who has experienced the deeper aspects of spirituality (of any tradition) will find common ground here. Schuon's entire conception of Islam - through the Perennialist philosophy - is based on this: "...if the religions are true, it is because each time it is God who has spoken, and if they are different, it is because God has spoken in different 'languages' in conformity with the diversity of the receptacles. Finally, if they are absolute and exclusive, it is because in each of them God has said 'I' ".
The great value of this book may be the perennialist idea and the way that it deepens one's understanding of a particular tradition (in my case Islam, in your's ____) through comparison of different expressions of the human condition. For if Islam is true, and there is only "One", yet many unique manifestations in our world (which is at the very basis of Islamic theology - One God, many manifestations), then the One is going to look different through different "lenses". Yet what remains unchanged is the One.
Schuon was a Sufi master. I discovered this book through reading Martin Lings' biography of the Prophet (pbuh). Lings was a disciple of Schuon. Both were members of the Perennialist school, which is panned in various fundamentalist Islamic circles. Yet the universality of perennialism naturally extends to a universal Islam that claims to encompass all rightly guided faiths. At the end of this book, Schuon illustrates - through Sufi terminology - how the paths of the various traditions in our world all look at the same truth, e.g. "Where Jew and Christian put intensity and thus totality of love, the Moslem puts sincerity and so totality of faith, which in becoming realized becomes gnosis, union, mystery of non-other-ness".
This is the type of foundational esoteric understanding and recognition that is critical to defuse existential crises in today's world. Identity, terminology and traditional veils obscure the fact that underneath there's this common thread of universality.
islam
islam-perennialism
islam-sufi-masters
...more
28 likes
6 comments
Like
Comment
Profile Image for Amine.
Amine
253 reviews
54 followers
Follow
October 23, 2019
Interesting, contains some sharp and deep considerations, but contains also some appalling claims. These guys are great critics of the modern world, but perennialism is a mistake.
All in all :
* incisive and synthetic thoughts that are appreciated ;
* not to be taken as a doctrinal source AT ALL ;
* contains some crazy attempts at Islam-Christanity pseudo-'ecumenism' (No Mr. Schuon, when Islam affirms at the Messiah is not God, it does not mean that he is "not 'a god' other than God" (!!!!!!!!) p14) ;
* not to be recommended to persons wanting to be introduced to Islam... (as the author himself says actually) ;
Islam does not need a substratum of Vedantic / Hindu terminology to be understood - and I highly stress this point. One should not need to rely on Atma, Maya and Brahman to understand any islamic concepts. Therefore, in the end, this book was probably meant for a specific audience already familiar with scholasticism and Hinduism, and ignorant of Islamic creed.
It is, in fact, very suspicious to hear, from Schuon himself, being a muslim since the 1930s, to hear him say, in the nineties, "Exoteric islam doesn't interest me more than any other religion" - because, as a muslim, I think it should ?
Also, another strange saying :
Omnipotence, like every attribute relating to an attitude or an activity, has its sufficient reason in the world and is exercised in the world; it is dependent on Being and cannot be exercised beyond that. God, “in creating” and “having created” is all-powerful in relation to what His work includes, but not so in relation to that which, in the Divine Nature itself, provokes both creation and the inner laws of creation; He does not govern that which makes the metaphysical necessity of the world and of evil. He governs neither relativity — of which He is, as ontological Principle, the first affirmation — nor the principial consequences of relativity (p71)
I'm sorry, what ?
15 likes
Like
Comment
Profile Image for Ishraq.
Ishraq
186 reviews
231 followers
Follow
February 22, 2014
Well, this was really a hard reading for me whether because of the language itself (where I kept the dictionary beside me) or the spiritual aspects of this book. This is my first encounter with Schuon who was called the Messenger of the Perennial Philosophy and to be honest it required a lot of effort and focus to stay along with this human encyclopedia of comparative religions!
I think this book is more into specialized interested people in the topic rather than any regular Muslim such as myself as it would be a little bit more concentrated dose of spirituality and Sufism, metaphysical and esoteric aspects of Islam. Its hard to relate to it at the beginning but as you read deep inside, a lots of doors and wisdom will be opened to you and better understanding of this aspect of Islam will be presented in an interested and provoking way.
I already read lots of comparative writing between Islam, Christianity and Judaism through the writings of Ali Izzat Bigovic and others but this one gave me insights on the Far East religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism and how they usually linked between Sufism and these more spiritual religions. His metaphysical interpretations of these religions in accordance with the Islamic doctrine will show you how these are connected in a way or another and how we all worship the same Absolute Divine, The One, Allah. So we all relate to the same Universal divinity.
His talk about the Qura'an, Morals and Virtues, Sacred Arts and the deep meaning of the Shahadah (Testimony of Faith) was of a great mental joy for me. The one regarding Morality and Values (which are my current interest in this world) was really appealing and I think I should take his interpretation into consideration in my research on the topic.
Show more
sufism
12 likes
Like
Comment
Profile Image for Yorgos.
Yorgos
41 reviews
39 followers
Follow
August 13, 2016
Very deep metaphysical introduction to the core principles of Islam. Proves that Islam is as metaphysically and philosophically deep as any world religion.
favorites
10 likes
1 comment
Like
Comment
Profile Image for Shaimaa Ali.
Shaimaa Ali
617 reviews
300 followers
Follow
June 26, 2014
This is by far one of the most difficult works I've ever read! Yet it was a beautiful spiritual journey to re-discover faith!
The title is very misleading by the simple name: "Understanding Islam", it goes through time & different religions core not just simple practice & in a very different writing technique not like attacking other religions & such!
The writer managed to illustrate his profound knowledge of the "Perennial Philosophy" with the comparisons & famous sayings from "Hadith", "Qur'an" , "Bible" & Buddhism sacred writings.
It state that all religions came from one source even if seen in different angles & with different practice techniques. there's a diversity of religions yet they reflect the same truth.
I still need to go through a lot of Frithjof Schuon's writings & read more about the "Perennial Philosophy", that was an eye-opening , reading about Islam & other religions as if you were re-born & becoming a Muslim for the very first time (or that was my own personal reflection on the book"
More about the "Perennial Philosophy":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perennia...
Show more
7 likes
2 comments
Like
Comment
Profile Image for رولا البلبيسي Rula Bilbeisi.
رولا البلبيسي Rula Bilbeisi
269 reviews
50 followers
Follow
August 18, 2014
August 18, 2014 Understanding Islam is completely removed here from all restrictions and limits Let's leave with the writer on an exhausting and difficult philosophical journey
Let the spirit of faith appear before us So you come out exhausted with notes, questions and quotes Reopen the pages in front of you To become the word and even the letter that we thought we understood its meaning With a thousand images and a thousand meanings A light glows as we go deeper into the geometry of words The author writes in a Sufi style So it was a very difficult read
For whom was this type of book his first attempt In understanding this philosophy.... like me 3 likes
TRANSLATE THIS PAGE
3 likes
Like
Comment
Profile Image for Abe.
Abe
264 reviews
72 followers
Follow
May 7, 2021
(Read in French)
This is a beautiful and profound work expounding a Sufi understanding of Islam. Certainly not an introductory book for someone new to Islam, but positively splendid for someone interested in contemporary Sufism from a more Perennialist perspective.
3 likes
Like
Comment
Profile Image for Dina Kaidir.
Dina Kaidir
85 reviews
44 followers
Follow
June 27, 2010
deepened the form that i was born into, left and returned home to...
3 likes
Like
Comment
Profile Image for Brett Childs.
Brett Childs
29 reviews
13 followers
Follow
January 24, 2021
Enlightening read! Whether you’re studying or are interested in Islam or not.
2 likes
Like
Comment
Profile Image for Sagheer Afzal.
Sagheer Afzal
Author
1 book
47 followers
Follow
November 28, 2021
After reading of Schuon's background, I was excited to read this book hoping it would provide a fresh insight from a man who lived with the Red Indians and learnt their type of mysticism and also learnt Sanskrit to gain an insight into Hindu mysticism. Having read the book and deliberated on its arguments I am very disappointed because this book abounds in sophistry.
Schuon's idea that the Sufism is the nexus between the esoteric and exoteric is hardly new but using patently absurd Hadith such as 'The Turban is the frontier between faith and unfaith' and 'On the day of Judgement a man shall recieve a light for each turn of the turban around his head' to justify his reasoning is very much the tried and tested formula of a flawed idealogue.
I also found his attempts to convince the reader that the Christian comncept of Logos is valid in Islam by claiming it is the same Sufi concept of there being an Absolute with two different manifestations nonsensical. Yes, the entification of the Divine Names of Allah is an idea much in vogue in Sufi literature but to liken it to Logos is absurd. Similarly, the way he tries to cloth Hindu concepts of Shaiva, Vaishnava, and Maya and Atma in Islamic garb invites more scepticism than credence.
I got the impression that Schuon as with many converts to Islamic Sufism retrofitted his thinking to suit that of his Sufi Master's Sheikh Al-Alawi.
2 likes
Like
Comment
