Islamic Mysticism, A Secular Perspective.
Amherst NY: Prometheus Books, 2000. First Edition. Hardcover. Large octavo. 260pp. Black cloth with orange titling to spine, chronology, maps, appendix, glossary, bibliography and index. This copy warmly INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR on the front blank to British artist, writer and musician DAVID TIBET (founder of the music group Current 93) with Tibet's OWNERSHIP SIGNATURE above the inscription (Tibet has also added "David Hall" within parentheses under his Islamic name).
Ibn al-Rawandi was thus the Islamic name of David Hall (1942-2007), who is best known as the author of "Beelzebub and the Beast", and numerous shorter pieces, and as the editor and publisher of the 1970s occult journal "Sothis". In the 1990s Hall converted to Islam, and wrote a number of works on the subject, although in his later years his enthusiasm for religious-based mysticism seems to have dulled, and he moved towards a more humanist perspective. The publisher says of this work: "Rawandi contends that unreliable sources seriously undermine the classical account of Islam and Sufism. His detailed study of the philosophy of religion - especially the work of traditionalists such as Rene Guenon and Frithjof Schuon - helps to develop a critical analysis of Islam from the inside out. Particular attention is given to great Islamic mystic Ibn Arabi, who is taken as representative of Sufism in its highest development. Rawandi offers a critical, secular perspective on Sufism and concludes that mystical experience is not a trustworthy validation of religion." Just a hint of shelfwear, light bruising to extremities else a tight, clean near Fine copy in VG+ dust jacket. (Dust jacket is very lightly rubbed with some light creasing at edges, not clipped. Now in mylar cover). Item #68435
ISBN: 9781573927673
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