Emanations of Grace Mystical Poems by A'ishah al-Bacuniyah (d. 923/1517)

A'ishah al-Bacuniyah was one of the greatest female scholars in Islamic history; a mystic and prolific poet and writer, she composed more works in Arabic than any other woman prior to the 20th century. This bilingual volume of poetry, edited and translated into English for the first time, recounts A'ishah al-Bacuniyah's remarkable story of devotion and mystical illumination, challenging many Western stereotypes of Islam by presenting the thoughts, feelings, and concerns of an educated Muslim woman. A'ishah al-Bacuniyah does not write of hatred or violence, but of her love and longing for God and His prophet Muhammad. These poems are a window into the world of others and the self.

Th. Emil Homerin is a professor of religion at the University of Rochester, where he teaches courses on Islam, classical Arabic literature, and mysticism. He is the author of numerous books, including From Arab Poet to Muslim Saint; Ibn al-Farid: Sufi Verse & Saintly Life; and Passion Before Me, My Fate Behind: Ibn al-Farid and the Poetry of Recollection; and the editor of The Wine of Love and Life: Ibn al-Farid's al-Khamriyah and al-Qaysari’s Quest for Meaning. He lives in Rochester, New York.