“Rustom’s new book is a masterful translation, superb critical edition and comprehensive guide to the thought of one of the most prominent Muslim thinkers.”
—Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations
“The Essence of Reality is a clear and fluent translation that successfully transfers the literary power of the original text into English.”
—Nazariyat
“[Rustom’s] translation strikes a delicate balance between faithfulness to the Arabic original and readability for a wide audience… A historical classic brought back to life by Rustom’s able skills as translator and commentator.”
—Marginalia (Los Angeles Review of Books)
“Like many readers of Arabic Sufi writings, I have always felt that translations of Sufi texts often miss the subtle beauty of the original Arabic. […] Reading The Essence of Reality, I now have a new standard of judgment. […] There is no doubt that The Essence of Reality represents a major feat in the field of Sufi studies.”
—Journal of Islamic and Muslim Studies