Emanations of Grace: Mystical Poems by ‘A’ishah al-Ba’uniyah

‘A’ishah al-Bā’ūnīyah (d. 923/1517) was one of the greatest women mystics in Islamic history. A Sufi master and an Arab poet, Ā’ishah wrote of her great devotion to God and His prophet Muhammad, and spoke of love and longing on her mystical quest for union. The selection of poems from this volume, edited and translated into English here for the first time, recount her remarkable story of devotion and mystical illumination.

She also alluded to her extensive education and mystical training, and her own particular life experiences, which are often reflected in her verse. Her many writings were read and copied by later generations of admirers who preserved her substantial literary and mystical legacies.
Though many of her works are lost today, several still exist in manuscript including her poetic collection Fayḍ al-Faḍl wa-Jam’ al-Shaml: “The Emanation of Grace and the Gathering Union.”

The selection of poems from this volume, edited and translated into English here for the first time, recount A’ishah al-Bācūnīyah’s remarkable story of devotion and mystical illumination.