Abu Bakr Kalabazi, a Persian Sufi mystic of the 10th century, is renowned for his seminal work “Kitab al-Ta’arruf,” which stands as one of the earliest systematic treatises on Sufism. In this influential text, Kalabazi meticulously elucidates the principles of Sufi doctrine, exploring various facets of Sufi practices, spiritual stages, and the path to God-realization….
Fuzail ibn Ayaz, a prominent Islamic scholar and early figure in Sufism, lived during the 8th and 9th centuries in Kufa, Iraq. Deeply influenced by Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq, he advocated moral integrity, humility, and sincerity in spiritual practice. Fuzail emphasized renunciation of worldly desires and inner purity as crucial for spiritual…
William James was an American philosopher, psychologist, and physician by training who lived from January 11, 1842, to August 26, 1910. James, one of the most prominent thinkers of the late nineteenth century and one of the most influential philosophers the United States has ever produced—some have even dubbed him the “Father of American psychology”—was…
Aaron Burr (1756–1836) was an American politician, lawyer, and soldier, best known for his role as the third Vice President of the United States under Thomas Jefferson and for his infamous duel with Alexander Hamilton. Born on February 6, 1756, in Newark, New Jersey, Burr was raised in a prominent family and attended Princeton University….
Stephen Hawking (1942–2018) was a renowned British theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author known for his groundbreaking work on black holes, cosmology, and the nature of the universe. Despite being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 21, which gradually paralyzed him, Hawking made significant contributions to theoretical physics, particularly in the study…
Thomas Edison (1847–1931) was an American inventor and entrepreneur known for his prolific innovations. He held over a thousand patents, including the electric light bulb and the phonograph. Edison’s most notable invention, the practical electric light bulb, revolutionized indoor lighting and paved the way for modern electrical systems. He also established the world’s first industrial…
Abu Ali Daqqaaq was a revered Sufi saint from 9th-century Baghdad, known for his profound spirituality and dedication to the path of Sufism. He emphasized the importance of inner purification, sincerity, and detachment from worldly desires as essential elements in the journey towards spiritual enlightenment. Abu Ali Daqqaaq’s teachings resonated deeply with seekers, inspiring them…
Aristophanes (c. 446 – c. 386 BC),son of Philippus and Zenodora, of the deme Kydathenaion (Latin: Cydathenaeum),was a comic playwright or comedy-writer of ancient Athens and a poet of Old Attic Comedy.Eleven of his forty plays survive virtually complete. These provide the most valuable examples of a genre of comic drama known as Old Comedy and are…
American psychologist Abraham Harold Maslow devised the notion of a hierarchy of needs and believed that addressing fundamental physiological requirements thereafter leads people to acquire attachment, then esteem, and lastly self-actualization. He was the first of seven children born to Jewish immigrants from Russia. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor’s degree…
Bulleh Shah, an 18th-century Punjabi Sufi poet and mystic, is celebrated for his spiritually rich poetry that transcends religious boundaries. Born in Punjab, now part of India and Pakistan, he advocated for love, tolerance, and inner enlightenment. Bulleh Shah’s verses critique organized religion’s formalities and hypocrisy, emphasizing a direct, personal connection with the Divine. Despite…
