Social Progress - Ethics & Policy

al-Ḥārith al-Muḥāsibī and the “Baghdad School”: Reflections from the Oeuvre of Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Sulamī

Submitted by Umar Farooq Patel on Thu, 06/30/2022 - 14:25

Given the spiritual proclivities of al-Ḥārith al-Muḥāsibī (d. 243/857) and his prolonged residence in Baghdad, it is little surprise that he has also been associated with the notion of “the Baghdad School of Sufism.” It is far more ambiguous, however, as to what is meant by a “school” in this context, as Baghdad in no way manifested a singular coherent teaching and in fact, displayed considerable doctrinal variety.