Understanding Islam: A New Translation with Selected Letters (Writings of Frithjof Schuon)

I have spent many years researching Islam and traveling to Muslim countries and even for me this was a tough one. This is the type of book where you have to be able to sit down and have no distractions at all and be okay with the idea that you're going to have to read the same paragraph over and over until you get it. I would say this is about as academic of a quick read as you can get on this subject. Just the first half of the book made me understand the Shahada in a way that I never looked at it before. I would absolutely recommend this book but you have been warned, if you don't have a thorough understanding of Islam before reading this you may end up totally lost.

Frithjof Schuon does what he is best at, examining the inner realities and truths of religion that are hidden beneath their external veils, which inwardly unite everything under a single absolute truth. After reading this book, it will change the way you look at Islam, or religion as a whole. Schuon does a wonderful job at reconciling major differences between the two largest world religions (Islam and Christianity) by looking at them through the lens of inner metaphysical meanings instead of the literal dogmatic external aspects which separate the two, which is much needed especially in our times to build bridges between these two important faith communities. The book does a very good job at sticking to the main thesis, which is the concept of the Absolute (ie God) and the relative (creation). Basically the thesis of Schuon's metaphysics is that the Absolute (God) is far too transcendent and other to be known or experienced directly, therefore there is the need for a manifestation in the created realm. This truth is reflected in the Islamic testimony of faith known as the "Shahada". Laa ilaha il Allah (literally, there is no god except Allah) affirms the existence of the Absolute Reality (Allah) by first denying all else (laa ilaha). This is then perfected in the second affirmation (Muhammadan Rasul Allah), which means that the Prophet is the manifestation of the attributes of the absolute within the realm of the relative (creation). All of existence are hence based on these two fundamental principles of cause and effect, absolute and relative, and this is embodied in the Shahada. He also compares this with the Christian concept of the Logos or Divine Word. In the same way that Christ is the human embodiment of the Logos, Muhammad is the embodiment of the Qur'an, which is also from the Eternal Divine Word of God (Kalam Allah). It would not be possible to exhaust all of the spiritual truths contained in this book.. Highly recommended for those searching for a deeper meaning behind religious teachings, not recommended for the average "religious" person who does not understand metaphorical, metaphysical, spiritual language and symbolism. This book is for an elect few who are gifted with the knowledge, wisdom and insight to understand it's depth..

This must be the most brilliant book on Islam in English language. Beautiful, concise, impregnated with wisdom and wit. Read it slowly and read it again, so many multilayered insights therein...Definitely not an introduction and definitely not for beginners, it requires deep knowledge of both Islam and Perennial Metaphysics. Written by a sage at his most lucid period - alas, before his controversial Featherd Sun era.