Sufism and Western Literature
A particular interest of mine is the influence of Islamic thought on the formation of Western civilization - specifically in the area of Sufism in relation to western literature. This field is relatively undocumented outside the ranks or Islamic scholars but the parallels and influences are a fascinating study. Numerous Sufic motifs, for example, are to be found in Shakespeare and Chaucer’s pear-tree tale occurs in Rumi’s Mathnavi. Goethe’s debt to Hafiz is perhaps well known but the parallels between Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe and the history of Hayy Ibn Yaqzan of Ibn Tufayl are even more striking.
We are currently working on an in-depth overview of this topic and will post it in the articles section when completed. Meanwhile, an interesting introduction to this subject can be found in Farhang Jahanpour’s Western Encounters with Persian Sufi Literature.
For those who are interested in this area there is also a very good article on Arabic influences around Dante at Ed Emery’s archive.
Sufism and Western Literature
A particular interest of mine is the influence of Islamic thought on the formation of Western civilization - specifically in the area of Sufism in relation to western literature. This field is relatively undocumented outside the ranks or Islamic scholars but the parallels and influences are a fascinating study. Numerous Sufic motifs, for example, are to be found in Shakespeare and Chaucer’s pear-tree tale occurs in Rumi’s Mathnavi. Goethe’s debt to Hafiz is perhaps well known but the parallels between Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe and the history of Hayy Ibn Yaqzan of Ibn Tufayl are even more striking.
We are currently working on an in-depth overview of this topic and will post it in the articles section when completed. Meanwhile, an interesting introduction to this subject can be found in Farhang Jahanpour’s Western Encounters with Persian Sufi Literature.
For those who are interested in this area there is also a very good article on Arabic influences around Dante at Ed Emery’s archive.