Only in the West did a philosophy develop that was not only no longer the love of wisdom but went so far as to deny the category of wisdom as a legitimate form of knowledge. The result was a hatred of wisdom that should more appropriately be called โmisosophyโ (literarily hatred of Sophia, Wisdom) rather than philosophy.
Seyyed Hossein NasrThe Prophet was taken by the order of God to heaven, which is a prototype of all spiritual realization in Islam. But, he had a guide; Gabriel, the angel, was his guide. He took him to heaven.
Seyyed Hossein NasrThe love of God is not only the highest form of love, but also in reality the only love of which all other loves are but shadows
Seyyed Hossein NasrRumi is perhaps the greatest mystical poet who ever lived, one of the greatest poets of the Persian language. He was able to express practically all aspects of the spiritual life and our existential situation in the world today as human beings in beautiful Persian poetry.
Seyyed Hossein NasrIf God did not love us, we could not love him. And Sufis are those who have realized this love.
Seyyed Hossein NasrIn the same way that we have a body and a soul and a spirit, our soul can't walk in the street without our body - we would be dead then. Religion is the same way; it has to have a body, it has to have a form, it has to have structure. Without that, the soul cannot be prepared to follow the tariqah.
Seyyed Hossein Nasr