The Sacred Knowledge of the Higher Functions of the Mind: The Altaf al-Quds of Shah Waliullah

by Shāh Walī Allāh ad-Dihla, G.N. Jalbani (Translator), David Pendlebury (Editor)

Professor Jalbani's version of this very important work has been admirably presented by David Pendlebury. Its full title may be rendered as "The Divine Favors of the Hidden Faculties of the Soul."

This important document, by one of the more recent great Sufi exponents of the Islamic tradition, is regarded in both East and West as a fundamental text. Of importance to both scholars and devout students, Professor Jalbani's rendering, excellently presented by David Pendlebury, shows how the 18th-century mystic of Delhi discharges his task. In Waliullah's own words: "The purpose behind writing this discourse is that only those problems pertaining to perception and the mystical unveiling are mentioned."

Genres: Islam, Religion

103 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1982

About the author

His full name is Quṭb ad-Din Aḥmad Wali Allah ibn 'Abd ar-Raḥim al-‘Umari ad-Dihlawi. His father is Shah Abdur Rahim, Islamic scholar himself whom had been compiled Fatawa-e-Alamgiri, a compilation of Hanafi lexicon and founder of the Madarssa-i-Rahimiya. In this school, Shah Waliullah received his early education until at the age of 15, he mastered all major branches in Islamic studies. At the age of 17, Shah Waliullah succeeded his father as the Shiekh of madarssa, For twenty years, Shah Waliullah had been teaching at that school until 1724, when performed the Hajj and studied under the great religious scholar, Shiekh Abu Tahir bin Ibrahim in Madinah for 14 years.

Reviews

[Mufti · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10

Honestly alot of the text went over my head either because I am too dumb to understand or something is lost in translation or a combination of the two. Nontheless it is interesting to see the reflections of Plato's thought in the author's mind as well as the author's thought appear in later works. It was also interesting to see how the author's understanding of the "rational" and "animal" soul is complimented by our understanding of neuranatomt and the parasympathetic nervous system.

[Faizan Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

outclass.

[Tariq Tariq · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very nice islamic book on mysticism. I would strongly like to recommend you.

[Irsa Malik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Julie-Anne Wood]

Excellent