An authoritative new edition and translation, with commentary, of one of the masterpieces of Persian Sufi poetry.

The Gulshan-i Rāz, by Mahmud Shabistarī (1288–1340), is widely regarded as a masterpiece of Persian Sufi poetry and philosophy. This new edition, by the renowned scholar of Islam Seyyed Hossein Nasr, not only includes a translation of the poem, it also establishes a new, authoritative edition of the Persian text and provides extensive commentary on the poem and its place in the Islamic, Sufi, and philosophical traditions. The work also introduces readers to the world of Islamic esotericism and mysticism, and it includes extensive discussion of deep metaphysical, cosmological, and anthropological ideas of universal interest beyond the realm of Sufi and Islamic studies. Written in language that is accessible to both Muslim and non-Muslim readers, it provides a compelling introduction to Sufi thought through the lens of poetry.

"Seyyed Hossein Nasr is a living heir of the Islamic sapiential tradition, one that combines both philosophy and mysticism. The breadth and range of his expertise in these fields sets this volume apart from everything else presently available on Shabistarī and his intellectual and spiritual legacy." — Atif Khalil, author of Repentance and the Return to God: 'Tawba' in Early Sufism

"Shabistarī's poem has been famous in Persian-speaking circles for being the finest introduction to philosophical Sufism. Dr. Nasr's translation and accompanying commentary make the text an invaluable resource for both aspiring researchers and students. His insights relate the text to a contemporary audience, but also to the world's philosophical and religious traditions, making it accessible to readers who might not be able to appreciate a translation on its own, without commentary." — Cyrus Ali Zargar, author of Religion of Love: Sufism and Self-Transformation in the Poetic Imagination of ʿAṭṭār

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