"In light of the religious and spiritual diversity that characterizes the history of humanity, these pages undertake an exploration of a journey marked by spiritual transformation and evolution. The book, 'Before I Sufi, I Was a Monk,' elucidates the preexisting religious norms and their configuration within the context of early Christian converts. Presented before us is an assemblage of articles that transport us across different epochs, enabling us to discern the impact of Islam on Sufism and the alterations that transpired in the lives of monks prior to this juncture. In the first axis, we immerse ourselves in the concept of monasticism, traversing the lives of pre-Islamic Arabian monks to ascertain the stark and austere nature of their existence. We acquaint ourselves with the profiles of leaders and Arabian Christian monks while also examining the life of Saint Anthony as a quintessential exemplar of ascetic monasticism. In the second axis, we trace the interconnection between monasticism and the post-prophetic era, elucidating how their relationship became intertwined with their spiritual essence. We delve into the phenomenon of visual Sufism and its influence on monasticism. Finally, in the third axis, we investigate the junctures of transformation in the relationships between monasticism and Sufism, discussing the impact of Ibn Abi al-Dunya's work, 'The Chosen Among the Monks.' We also expound upon the shared influence between monasticism and Sufism through the paradigm of 'The Ethikon' and how this convergence of ideas and orientations resonated within monastic literature. This book embarks on a profound journey, venturing to explore the influence of Sufism on monasticism and the reciprocal exchange of asceticism and spirituality between these two spiritual movements. These pages elucidate the genius of mutual influence, which has profoundly reshaped the landscape of spirituality across the annals of time."weiterlesen