ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book. The book mainly concerns the Persian mystics. The mystical fire, as it spread rapidly over the broad world of Islam, found tinder in the hearts of many who were not Persians: Egyptians like Dhu'l Nun, Andalucians like Ibn'ul Arabi, Arabs like Rabi'a al 'Adawiyya. Early in the history of Islam, Moslem ascetics appeared who, from their habit of wearing coarse garments of wool, became known as Sufis. The vigor of the Persian spiritual genius, however, is not a phenomenon which came suddenly to light at the outset of Islam. During the present century German interest in Persian mysticism was revived by Kazimzadeh Iranshahr, a Persian who settled in Berlin and published a number of religious booklets based upon Sufi teachings. The mystical teachings of the early centuries were diffused throughout western Asia, not least in Syria and Persia.
