The most broadly accepted explanation of Sufism is the etymological derivation of the term from the Arabic for wool, f, associating practitioners with a preference for poor, rough clothing. This explanation clearly identifies Sufism with ascetical practice and the importance of manifesting spiritual poverty through material poverty. In fact, some of the earliest Western descriptions of individuals now widely associated with the larger phenomenon of Sufism identified them with the Arabic term faqr, mendicant, or its most common Persian equivalent, darwsh. Sufism, as presented here embraces a host of features including the ritual, institutional, psychological, hermeneutical, artistic, literary, ethical, and epistemological.This second edition ofHistorical Dictionary of Sufismcontains a chronology, an introduction, a glossary, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 1,000 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, major historical figures and movements, practices, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Sufism.

John Renard is professor in the Department of Theological Studies at Saint Louis University, where he has taught Islamic studies, history of religion, and comparative theology since 1978. He has written He has published 19 books on Sufism and Islam.

Editors Foreword (Jon Woronoff)Acknowledgments and CreditsReaders NoteMap [2-page spread]ChronologyIntroductionTHE DICTIONARYGlossaryBibliographyAbout the Author