Islamic Intellectualism is dead, or so Chittick argues in this profound new book. With academic courses either encouraging commercialism, or cultivating zealots, Chittick states that it is impossible to understand classical Islamic texts without the years of contemplative study that are anathema to the modern education system.

Insisting upon a return to the ways of the ancient Sufis, who viewed knowledge of the soul, the world, and God as an extension of the same thing, Chittick maintains that the study of Islamic texts cannot be treated separately from ones faith. Fascinating, radical, and a true challenge to modern trends in academic study, this book opens a new debate in Islamic thought.