A Collection of Sufi Rules of Conduct

A Collection of Sufi Rules of Conduct (Jawami Adab al-Sufiyya) was written by one of the foremost early masters of Sufism and is considered as the first work devoted to the description of the way of life and the customs of the Sufis. It represents an early attempt to illustrate the conformity of Sufi beliefs and manners with the Qur’an and the example of the Prophet (Sunna). 

A Collection of Sufi Rules of Conduct is therefore not only a pioneering work of ethics and mysticism, it is also a summary of the views of Sufis up till the eleventh century. It was a major influence on the development of Sufism from the eleventh century onwards. The translation by Dr. Elena Biagi includes an introduction that places the author in his historical, literary and religious context and a general glossary of Sufi technical terms.

Table of Contents

• Chapter One: The Life and Works of al-Sulami
• Chapter Two: The Adab Literary Tradition
• Chapter Three: Sulami’s Jawami Adab al-Sufiyya
• Chapter Four: The Translation of the Jawami Adab al-Sufiyya,
• Glossary: Glossary of Sufi Technical Terminology in the Jawami Adab al-Sufiyya
• Biographical Notes: Biographical Notes on Some Major Sufi Figures Mentioned in the Jawami Adab al-Sufiyya
• Bibliography, Index

About The Author

Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami was born in Nishapur in 937 to a prestigious family. His father was on good terms with the early Malamatiyya. When al-Sulami was young his father moved to Makkah and left al-Sulami under the care of his maternal grandfather. His grandfather, Abu ‘Amr Isma’il b. Nujayd al-Sulami (d. 971) was the spiritual heir to Abu ‘Uthman al-Hiri (d.910) who is an important figure in the formation of the Malamatiyya.

About The Translator

Dr. Elena Biagi is a Professor of Arabic at Milan University.