Journal article

Before ṣūfiyyāt: female Muslim renunciants in the 8th and 9th centuries CE

Abstract:: Some scholars have attempted to identify a distinctive, feminine spirituality among early Muslim renunciants and Sufis. Studies by Roded, Azad, Dakake, and Silvers are reviewed. Content analysis of Ibn al-Jawzī, Ṣifat al-ṣafwa, suggests that renunciant women and men (of the period before classical Sufism) were remembered for similar devotional activities in similar frequencies. The Damascene Yazīd b. Maysara (fl. earlier 2nd/8th cent.) is quoted as saying, “A reprobate woman is like a thousand reprobate men, while a virtuous woman will be credited with the work of a hundred male saints.” There is no room here to say that collections of renunciant sayings name surprisingly many saintly women, or that the tradition systematically suppressed reports of saintly women from disbelief in female saintliness. On the contrary, saintly women were part of the prevailing ideology.

Publication status:: Published

Peer review status:: Peer reviewed

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APA Style

Melchert, C. (2016). Before ṣūfiyyāt: female Muslim renunciants in the 8th and 9th centuries CE. Journal of Sufi Studies, 5(2), 115–139.

MLA Style

Melchert, C. “Before Ṣūfiyyāt: Female Muslim Renunciants in the 8th and 9th Centuries CE.” Journal of Sufi Studies, vol. 5, no. 2, 2016, pp. 115–39.

Chicago Style

Melchert, C. 2016. “Before Ṣūfiyyāt: Female Muslim Renunciants in the 8th and 9th Centuries CE.” Journal of Sufi Studies 5 (2): 115–39.
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Files:: femalejss16.pdf

(Preview, Accepted manuscript, pdf, 313.9KB, Terms of use)

Publisher copy:: 10.1163/22105956-12341287

Authors

+ Melchert, C More by this author

Institution:: University of Oxford
Division:: HUMS
Department:: Oriental Studies Faculty
Role:: Author

+ National Humanities Center More from this funder

Funding agency for:: Melchert, C
Grant:: John G. Medlin, Jr., Senior Fellowship

Publisher:: Brill
Journal:: Journal of Sufi Studies More from this journal
Volume:: 5
Issue:: 2
Pages:: 115–139
Publication date:: 2016-12-02
Acceptance date:: 2016-08-26
DOI:: 10.1163/22105956-12341287
EISSN:: 2210-5956
ISSN:: 2210-5948

Keywords:: women renunciants

Sufism

zuhd
Pubs id:: pubs:647236
UUID:: uuid:30780b1c-4781-444f-9e8d-7e1cd0fae68b
Local pid:: pubs:647236
Source identifiers:: 647236
Deposit date:: 2016-09-30
ARK identifier:: ark:/29072/ora_30780b1c4781444f9e8d7e1cd0fae68b

Terms of use

Copyright holder:: Koninklijke Brill
Copyright date:: 2016
Notes:: Copyright © 2016 Koninklijke Brill. This is the accepted manuscript version of the article. The final version is available online from Brill at: https://doi.org/10.1163/22105956-12341287

Licence:: Terms and Conditions of Use for Oxford University Research Archive

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