Sufi non-conformism: antinomian trends in the Persianate cultural traditions

Abstract

This book explores the nonconformist aspects of Sufism and other antinomian movements in Persianate cultural areas. The chapters cover a diverse array of topics, including gender dynamics and the role of women in Islamic mysticism, the contrast between genuine and false piety, and the tension between belief and unbelief. The book also examines the concept of metempsychosis (tanāsukh) in the mystical philosophy of Shihāb al-Dīn Suhrawardī and highlights the profound influence of the Persian sage ʿUmar Khayyām on religious discussions about piety in Persia, along with his intriguing reception in Europe. Additionally, the book offers a detailed analysis of how Islamic scholars in the Ottoman Empire defined heretical and pious behaviors. It also investigates the beliefs of the Ahl-i Ḥaqq communities in Kurdistan, shedding light on the influence of Zoroastrianism on their practices and worldview.