A beautifully illustrated introduction to Sufism, the mystic tradition of Islam. Sufism is the inner dimension of Islam, expressing hidden archetypes in concrete symbols. To the Sufi, both the ritual of the worshipper and the work of the craftsman evoke the life that resides within all things: the preparedness of matter to answer the call of God. The basis of Sufism, as of all Islam, lies in the twin doctrines of the Unity of Being ("There is no god but God") and the Universal Prototype ("Muhammad is the Prophet of God"). Through the Sufi themes of the descending arc of Creation, the foundation of the human soul, and its return through the ascending arc of the Quest, Laleh Bakhtiar brings to light the spiritual reality that underlies the forms and rhythms of the Islamic tradition. Her introduction is suitable for both novice and experienced readers. 137 Illustrations, 30 in color.