First Among Sufis

By Widad El Sakkakini, Nabil Safwat (translator),

Book cover of First Among Sufis: The Life and Thought of Rabia al-Adawiyya, the Woman Saint of Basra

Book description

Born in Basra in the 8th century of an impoverished family, orphaned and sold into slavery, Rabia al-Adawiyya, rose to become one of the greatest Sufi teachers. An extraordinary kaleidoscope of myth and reality, of imagination and fact... is it not of importance that a woman of such stature and…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked First Among Sufis as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

A book about a saint of the eighth century, whose life and declarations offer an in-depth and clear portrait of the Sufi path. Her miracles were casual and instrumental, her encounters serve for all of us as material for reflection, and her sayings are beautiful and transformative of the mind. Two examples: “I will not serve God as a laborer, in expectation of my wages.” And “Lord, if I worship you from desire for Paradise, deny me Paradise; if I worship you from fear of Hell, cast me into Hell.”

From Steven's list on by or about world-changing women.

Want books like First Among Sufis?

Our community of 10,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like First Among Sufis.

Browse books like First Among Sufis

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Sufism, Islam, and God?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about Sufism, Islam, and God.

Sufism Explore 35 books about Sufism
Islam Explore 123 books about Islam
God Explore 230 books about God