The Tadhkiratu 'l-Awliya

The Idea of Personality in Sufism by Reynold A. Nicholson explores the Sufi conception of the self and the transformation of human personality through mystical experience. Drawing on classical Sufi texts and thinkers, Nicholson examines how the ego (nafs) is purified and transcended in the quest for union with the Divine. He highlights key concepts such as fana (annihilation of the self) and baqa (subsistence in God), showing how the Sufi path redefines individuality as a reflection of divine reality. The work offers a nuanced philosophical and spiritual analysis of how personal identity is reshaped within the mystical framework of Islam.