Companionship and Virtue in Classical Sufism: The Contribution of al-Sulami

Al-Sulami (d. 412/1021) was an influential classical Sufi master whose works espoused companionship as a way for believers to experience God’s guidance and cultivate religious virtues. This book provides a historical reconstruction of Sufi companionship in Khurasan in the period, arguing that al-Sulami's concept of suhba (companionship) envisioned the transformation of society as whole, not just the master-disciple relationship. Bringing debates in contemporary virtue ethics to bear on al-Sulami's spiritual method, the book offers an original analysis of the latter’s thought that will be of interest to scholars of early Islam and classical Sufism as well as moral theologians interested in virtue ethics, character and friendship. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Dedication Contents Acknowledgements Abbreviations Used in Citations of al-Sulami Other Abbreviations Introduction: What does virtue ethics have to do with Sufism? Chapter 1 The emergence of adab in al-Sulami’s spiritual method Chapter 2 Virtue and character in al-Sulami’s thought Chapter 3 Al-Sulami’s vision of fellowship and spiritual companionship Chapter 4 Subha in comparison: al-Sulami’s near contemporaries Conclusion Bibliography Index of Proper Names and Places Index of Qur.an Citations Index of Themes and Terminology