The Essence of Reality A Defense of Philosophical Sufism

"Rustom's new book is a masterful translation, superb critical edition and comprehensive guide to the thought of one of the most prominent Muslim thinkers." - Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations

"The Essence of Reality is a clear and fluent translation that successfully transfers the literary power of the original text into English." - Nazariyat

"[Rustom's] translation strikes a delicate balance between faithfulness to the Arabic original and readability for a wide audience... A historical classic brought back to life by Rustom's able skills as translator and commentator." - Marginalia, Los Angeles Review of Books

"Like many readers of Arabic Sufi writings, I have always felt that translations of Sufi texts often miss the subtle beauty of the original Arabic. [...] Reading The Essence of Reality, I now have a new standard of judgment. [...] There is no doubt that The Essence of Reality represents a major feat in the field of Sufi studies." - Journal of Islamic and Muslim Studies