3. Sufi Bodies: Religion and Society in Medieval Islam (2011) Core Focus
The book is designed to be experienced as an Open Access digital project (and as a traditional printed volume), allowing for non-linear, interactive exploration of how history is constructed and understood.
(2021): This book examines poetry as a material object of value in the Persian world, detailing its connections to political and religious authority and economic exchange. Fazlallah Astarabadi and the Hurufis
In this concise but potent work, part of Cambridge University Press's "Elements in the Global Middle Ages" series, Bashir presents an entirely new framework for thinking about Persian poetry. He proposes that we analyze this vast literary tradition as a market . This means viewing poetry not just as art, but as a system of material value, prestige, and exchange. As he notes, "poetic speech is a pearl, connected to the king's ear," a statement that encapsulates how words were objects of desire sought by those with power and resources. shahzad bashir books
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The linguistic mysticism of the Hurufis, who believed the cosmos contained hidden secrets manifested through letters and human physical forms. Fazlallah Astarabadi and the Hurufis In this concise
4. A New Vision for Islamic Past: "A New History of the Islamic World" Series
Shahzad Bashir is a prominent historian whose work explores the intersections of religion, history, and society in the Islamic world, with a particular focus on Sufism and messianic movements. His books are available through major retailers like Amazon and Waterstones . Key Works by Shahzad Bashir The Market in Poetry in the Persian World
“Shahzad Bashir’s work is consistently insightful and meticulously researched. His books offer a fresh, critical perspective on Islamic history, Sufism, and historical representation. A must-read for anyone interested in nuanced, scholarly approaches to religion and visual culture in the Persianate world.” As he notes, "poetic speech is a pearl,
Bashir’s most ambitious work, A New Vision for Islamic Pasts and Futures , is an open-access digital monograph published by The MIT Press. Rather than relying on a standard chronological narrative, the book utilizes a custom-designed interactive interface that mirrors its core arguments. Bashir presents Islam not as a single historical timeline anchored strictly to the Middle East, but as a vast, non-linear web of interconnected global traces. BOOKS – SHAHZAD BASHIR
Fazlallah Astarabadi and the Hurufis serves as an excellent introduction to its subject and the esoteric Hurufi doctrine, which was based on the mystical significance of letters and numbers. The book is a valuable resource for students and general readers, placing a complex and often neglected figure into the broader context of Islamic mysticism and apocalyptic thought.
, this is a "born-digital," open-access project. It uses a non-linear, multi-modal format to decenter Islam from traditional geographical and theological boundaries, emphasizing time as a human construct. Core Academic Books Sufi Bodies: Religion and Society in Medieval Islam