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Encyclopedia > Idries Shah
Idries Shah

Born 16 June 1924
Died 23 November 1996
Movement Naqshbandi Sufism
Famous works The Sufis

The Subtleties of the Inimitable Mulla Nasrudin Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... is the 167th day of the year (168th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the rap album, see 1924 (album). ... is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Naqshbandi (Naqshbandiyya) is one of the major Sufi orders (tariqa) of Islam. ... Sufism is a mystic tradition within Islam that encompasses a diverse range of beliefs and practices dedicated to divine love and the cultivation of the heart. ...


The Book of the Book


Learning how to Learn


Kara Kush

Idries Shah (16 June 1924–23 November 1996) (Persian: ادریس شاه), also known as Idris Shah, né Sayyid Idris al-Hashimi (Arabic: سيد إدريس الهاشمي), was an author in the Naqshbandi sufist tradition on works ranging from psychology and spirituality to travelogues and culture studies, and was descended from the revered family, the Sadaat of Paghman, a direct descendent of the Prophet Mohammed. is the 167th day of the year (168th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the rap album, see 1924 (album). ... is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Look up Persian in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Author (disambiguation). ... Naqshbandi (Naqshbandiyya) is one of the major Sufi orders (tariqa) of Islam. ... Sufism is a mystic tradition within Islam that encompasses a diverse range of beliefs and practices dedicated to divine love and the cultivation of the heart. ... Muhammad (Arabic محمد, also transliterated Mohammad, Mohammed, and formerly Mahomet, following the Latin) is revered by Muslims as the final prophet of God. ...

Contents

Life

Idries Shah was born in Simla, India, to an Afghan-Indian father and Scottish mother into the family. Shah's early years were mainly spent in Afghanistan, India and England, and his upbringing bridged East and West. He was educated, as his father before him, by private tutors in Europe and the Middle East, and through wide-ranging travel—the series of journeys, in fact, that characterise Sufi education and development. , Shimla   (Hindi: िशमला, Urdu: شملہ), originally called Simla, is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. ... This article is about the country. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Sufism (Arabic تصوف taṣawwuf) is a system of esoteric philosophy commonly associated with Islam. ...


Shah married Cynthia (Kashfi) Kabraji in 1958, and fathered one son, Tahir Shah, and two daughters. One of the daughters, Saira Shah, reported on women's rights in Afghanistan in her documentary Beneath the Veil. Shah's brother, Omar Ali-Shah, was also a writer and teacher of Sufism. Jan. ... The Anglo-Afghan author Tahir Shah (born in London, 16 November 1966) and educated at Bryanston School, Dorset, England. ... Saira is an author, reporter and documentary filmmaker. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...


Works

Idries Shah's writings greatly extended the western knowledge of the Sufi teachings. He profoundly influenced several intellectuals, notably Doris Lessing and Robert Ornstein. His definition of Sufism was liberal in that he was of the opinion that it predated Islam and did not depend on the Qur'an, but was universal in source, scope and relevance (see Sufi studies). He maintained that spiritual teachings should be presented in forms and terms that are familiar in the community where they are to take root. He believed that students should be given work based on their individual capacities, and rejected systems that apply the same exercises to all. In his own work he used teaching stories and humor to great effect. Sufism is a mystic tradition within Islam that encompasses a diverse range of beliefs and practices dedicated to divine love and the cultivation of the heart. ... Doris Lessing CH OBE (born Doris May Tayler in Kermanshah, Persia (now Iran),[1] on 22 October 1919[2]) is a British writer, author of works such as the novels The Grass is Singing and The Golden Notebook. ... Robert Ornstein is a psychologist, writer, professor at Stanford University, and chairman of the Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge (ISHK). ... Sufism is a mystic tradition within Islam that encompasses a diverse range of beliefs and practices dedicated to divine love and the cultivation of the heart. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... The Qur’ān [1] (Arabic: , literally the recitation; also sometimes transliterated as Quran, Koran, or Al-Quran) is the central religious text of Islam. ... Sufi studies: a particular branch of comparative studies that uses a. ... Teaching stories is a term introduced by Idries Shah to describe stories and anecdotes that have been deliberately created as vehicles for the transmission of wisdom. ...


Shah's earliest published works reflected his interest in magic, witchcraft and occultism: Oriental Magic (London 1956), and The Secret Lore of Magic: Book of the Sorcerers (London 1957). He started Octagon Press ([1]) in 1960, and the first Octagon title was Gerald Gardner: Witch, the biography of a leading figure in the British witchcraft revival of the 1950s. Attributed to "Jack L. Bracelin", it has long been known as a pseudonymous work by Shah, who was Gardner's secretary at the time of writing (see F. Lamond, Fifty Years of Wicca, 2004). Later, Shah developed his press as a means of publishing and distributing Sufi books that might otherwise have gone out of print. His desire was to have these always available to each generation. The books range from traditional Sufi manuals, to contemporary works. Several books feature the Mulla Nasrudin character. These humorous teaching stories are said to have the ability to act as a mirror to human foibles, aiding philosophical self examination. This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... It has been suggested that New Forest coven be merged into this article or section. ... “Witch” redirects here. ... the first thing that was invented was the automatic DILDO. Education grew explosively because of a very strong demand for high school and college education. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Nasreddin (disambiguation). ...


Shah started the "Society for Understanding the Foundations of Ideas" (or "SUFI") in London in the mid-1960s. This was renamed the "Institute for Cultural Research" ([2]), alongside a more esoteric "Society for Sufi Studies", also founded by Shah. The ICR, currently based in London, hosts lectures and seminars on topics related to aspects of human nature, while the SSS has ceased its activities.


Shah's books have sold over 15 million copies in 12 languages worldwide. They have been reviewed by The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Times (see for example, Doris Lessing's review), The Tribune, The Daily Telegraph and numerous other international journals and newspapers. His best-selling novel Kara Kush was based on fact, incorporating Shah's first-hand knowledge of the courage of the Afghan people, and the atrocities inflicted upon them. The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ... For other uses, see New Yorker. ... The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom (and the Kingdom of Great Britain before the United Kingdom existed) since 1788 when it was known as The Daily Universal Register. ... Doris Lessing CH OBE (born Doris May Tayler in Kermanshah, Persia (now Iran),[1] on 22 October 1919[2]) is a British writer, author of works such as the novels The Grass is Singing and The Golden Notebook. ... The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh and Delhi, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). ... This article concerns the British newspaper. ...


About a year after his last visit to Afghanistan in late spring of 1987, Shah suffered two successive and massive heart attacks. He died in London on November 23, 1996, at the age of 72. According to the obituary in The Daily Telegraph, Idries Shah was a collaborator with Mujahideen in the Afghan-Soviet war, a Director of Studies for the Institute for Cultural Research and a Governor of the Royal Humane Society and the Royal Hospital and Home for Incurables. Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... For the Iranian opposition group, see Peoples Mujahedin of Iran. ... CCCP redirects here. ... This society was founded in England in 1774 for the purpose of rendering first aid in cases of drowning and for restoring life by artificial means to those apparently drowned. ... The Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability, in Putney in southwest London, is an independent medical charity, which undertakes research and provides specialist services to meet the needs of people with complex neurological disabilities resulting from damage to the brain or other parts of the nervous system. ...


Further reading

Marcia Hermansen [3] "Literary productions of Western Sufi movements" in: Sufism in the West, Jamal Malik and John Hinnells eds. -Routledge: London and New York, 2006 (pp 28-48)


See also

The Anglo-Afghan author Tahir Shah (born in London, 16 November 1966) and educated at Bryanston School, Dorset, England. ... Saira is an author, reporter and documentary filmmaker. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Partial bibliography

  • Sufism:
    • The Sufis ISBN 0-385-07966-4
    • The Way of the Sufi ISBN 0-900860-80-4
    • Tales of the Dervishes ISBN 0-900860-47-2
    • The Book of the Book ISBN 0-900860-12-X
    • Neglected Aspects of Sufi Study ISBN 0-900860-56-1
    • Sufi Thought and Action ISBN 0-86304-051-9
  • Philosophy:
    • Knowing How to Know ISBN 0-86304-072-1
    • The Commanding Self ISBN 0-86304-066-7
    • Learning How to Learn - Psychology and Spirituality in the Sufi Way ISBN 0-900860-59-6
    • The Elephant in the Dark - Christianity, Islam and The Sufis ISBN 0-900860-36-7
    • Thinkers of the East - Studies in Experientialism ISBN 0-900860-46-4
    • Reflections ISBN 0-900860-07-3
    • A Veiled Gazelle - Seeing How to See ISBN 0-900860-58-8
    • Seeker After Truth - A Handbook ISBN 0-900860-91-X
  • Collections of Mulla Nasrudin Stories:
    • The Exploits of the Incomparable Mulla Nasrudin
    • The Subtleties of the Inimitable Mulla Nasrudin
    • The Pleasantries of the Incredible Mullah Nasrudin
    • The World of Nasrudin
  • Fiction:
    • Kara Kush
  • Children's Literature:
    • World Tales
    • The Man With Bad Manners
    • The Old Woman and The Eagle
    • The Boy Without A Name
    • The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water
    • Neem the Half-Boy
    • The Farmer’s Wife
    • The Silly Chicken
    • The Magic Horse

For other uses, see Nasreddin (disambiguation). ...

External links

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Tasawwuf (Sufism)
Ideas: Ihsan · Noor · Maqaam · Haal · Manzil · Yaqeen · Fanaa · Baqaa · Haqiqah · Marifah · Nafs · Dhawq · Sulook · Cosmology · Kashf · Metaphysics · Psychology · Tajalli
Practices: Dhikr · Hadhra · Muraqaba · Qawwali · Sema · Whirling
Sufi orders: Chishti · Mevlevi · Murīdiyya · Naqshbandi · Oveyssi · Qadri · Rifa'i · Shadhili · Suhrawardi · List of tariqas
Early Sufis: Uwais al-Qarni · Hasan Basri · Rabia Basri · Bayazid · Junayd Baghdadi · Al Khakim At Termizi · Dhul Nun · Hallaj · Abusaeid Abolkheir · Ahmad Ghazali · Ghazali · Abul-Hassan Kharaqani · Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani · Moinuddin Chishti · Suhrawardi · Rifa'i · Bakhtiar Kaki · Baba Farid · Ibn Arabi · Shams Tabrizi · Rumi · Saadi · Attar · Shabistari · Nizamuddin Auliya · Ganj Bakhsh · Baha-ud-Din Naqshband · Khusro · Sheykh Safi  · Shah Nimatullah  · Najmeddin Kubra · Jami · Jazouli · Sabir Pak · Shah Waliullah · Ata Allah · Waris Pak · Zarruq · Yesevi · Emre · Semnani · Sirhindi · Bhittai · Haddad
Notable Modern Sufis: Tahir ul-Qadri · Nazim · Kabbani · Keller  · Maliki · Abdalqadir Sufi · Shah · Inayat Khan · Nader Angha · Sadegh Angha · Shamsuddin Azeemi · Reshad Feild · Ahmad al-Alawi · Ozak · Bawa Muhaiyaddeen · Galib · Omar Shah · Haeri · Gohar Shahi
Sufi studies: Lings · Chittick · Ernst · Sells · Corbin · Frager · Schimmel · Hixon · Guénon · Nasr · Burckhardt · Schuon
Topics in Sufism: Art · Fiction  · History · Music · Poetry · Shrines  · Texts

  Results from FactBites:
 
IDRIES SHAH (1392 words)
From the start, the young Shah was at home in both East and West: educated, as his father before him, by private tutors in Europe and the Middle East, and through wide-ranging travel and personal encounters -- the series of journeys, in fact, that characterise Sufi education and development.
Shah's knowledge and activities took place in so many different areas of specialisation and in so many countries, that friends and sometimes even family were aware of what he was doing purely on a 'need to know' basis.
Idries Shah was indeed a sensible man. He was also, it is said, the Sufi Teacher of the Age.
IDRIES SHAH (1207 words)
IDRIES SHAH, who has died aged 72, was Grand Sheikh of the Sufis, and through his books and example the greatest living propagator of their spiritual insights.
Shah could be angry in the face of negativity or wilful foolishness, but more usually was warm and approachable, whether by the celebrated or the humble.
Shah remarked that "God is Love" can be words scrawled on a placard carried by an old tramp in the street, or the revelation of the greatest truth, with a thousand changes of meaning in between, and it is the thousand changes that are the experience of the learner.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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