This book offers a faithful English translation of An-Nazarat (‘The Reflections’) by Mustafa Lutfi al-Manfaluti, a distinguished essayist from the era of the Nahda, or the Modern Arabic Literary Renaissance in Egypt. Al-Manfaluti’s magnum opus, first published in 1910, is a rich collection of short stories, essays, and a few adapted translations, originally featured in Egypt’s al-Mu’ayyad newspaper. With a sharp, reflective eye, al-Manfaluti captures the vibrant tapestry of life, inviting readers to explore the intricate interplay of cultural identity and the dynamic evolution of society. His works, which John A. Haywood describes as spanning the ‘whole gamut of current ethical and social problems,’ offer a glimpse into the early 20th-century Egyptian zeitgeist, touching on themes of political nationalism, pan-Islamic aspirations, and religious reform. Al-Manfaluti’s unique, almost highbrow style, with its distinct lustre, sets his writings apart. Abdul-Sattar Jawad compares him to the Romantic essayist Lamb, noting al-Manfaluti’s use of personal reminiscences, stories, interest in the natural past, and prose poems, often reinforced with verse quotations. Hailed as a genius in the art of literary composition and prose-writing, and a leader in pure stylistic diction, al-Manfaluti’s An-Nazarat remains a seminal work for those interested in the Middle East and the Nahda period, a melting pot of social and literary significance.

When we think about something we need, we usually cannot overcome that thought until the perceived need is satisfied. For example, if we need food or water, our minds constantly think about how hungry or thirsty we are until we have something to eat or quench our thirst. Similarly, one who understands how much he or she is in need of God will constantly think about God. When we have faith and the desire to receive Gods grace and mercy, we will turn to the remembrance of Him. In Remember Me, and I Will Remember You, Dhikr: The Soul of Islam, author Tallal Alie Turfe, a champion for religious tolerance, underscores the importance of remembrance and how we can better use it to improve our health and lifestyle. He sheds light on the concept of remembrance and its importance as a reminder of our gratitude to the Creator. The Arabic term for remembrance is dhikr, which inspires us to do good, but it also heals, energizes, and transforms our lives. When engaging in dhikr, we feel more forgiving and enthusiastic. Dhikr is the adhesive that binds the mind and heart together. It serves as a key link in the dynamic between praising God and receiving blessings from Him. Remember Me, and I Will Remember You, Dhikr: The Soul of Islam will help you understand and use dhikr to achieve a better relationship with God and the world around us.

Abi Talib, son-in-law and cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, first Shi'i imam and fourth caliph, is a monumental figure within the Islamic tradition. But despite the immense importance of Ali, there is a dearth of literature in Western languages about his life and thought. This book - the first serious engagement in English with the intellectual principles underpinning his teachings - is therefore a welcome and valuable addition to the sources available. It consists of three parts. Part one introduces the person of Ali in a general manner, and focuses particularly on the spiritual and ethical content of his teachings. Part two evaluates Ali's 'sacred conception of justice'. Part three addresses the theme of spiritual realization through the remembrance of God, the central mystical practice of the Sufis. Justice and Remembrance will be of great value to students and scholars of Islamic thought, as well as to those interested in the relationship between spirituality and ethics.

In Ecclesiastes, the authorial voice of Qohelet presents an identity that has challenged readers for centuries. This book offers a reception history of the different ways readers have constructed Qohelet as an author. Previous reception histories of Ecclesiastes group readings into "premodern" and "critical," or separate Jewish from Christian readings. In deliberate contrast, this analysis arranges readings thematically according to the interpretive potential inherent in the text, a method of biblical reception history articulated by Brennan Breed. Doing so erases the artificial distinctions between so-called scholarly and confessional readings and highlights the fact that many modern academic readings of the authorship of Ecclesiastes travel in well-worn interpretive paths that long predate the rise of critical scholarship. Thus this book offers a reminder that, while critical biblical scholarship is an essential part of the interpretive task, academic readings are themselves indebted to the Bible’s reception history and a part of it.

The Quran. And The Sunnah. In one place.

"This volume, like other Building Bridges Seminar books, presents pairs of lectures by Christians and Muslims which introduce texts for dialogical study, plus the actual text-excerpts themselves. This series is unique in that each volume goes far beyond mere reporting on a dialogical seminar; rather, each provides guidance and materials for constructing a similar dialogical experience on a particular topic. Naming God brings fresh perspective to a topic of great interest in Christian-Muslim understanding. In a sense, Naming God continues the conversation begun in the Seminar's earlier publication, Monotheism and Its Complexities (2018), and employs the same distinctive approach to dialogical close reading a scripture and other source material. The book is vital reading for students (undergraduate and graduate) and congregational leaders"--