The Pillars of Islam

Rating:
Summary: A Great Work on Isma'ili Usul al-Din
Review: This translation is delightful and rich. It in enjoyable to read which is much more than can be said for most books which address the ritual and basic practice of Islam. This work was composed by al-Qadi al-Nu'man in 349 hijrah and is brimming with traditions emphasizing the more spiritual nature of the Isma'ili understanding of Islam. The work goes over the seven pillars of Islam (as opposed to the more common five pillars of the Sunni branch) and uses the typical presentation by citing first the Prophet, then Ali and then one of the seven Imams considered authoritative by the Isma'ili school.
The value of this work, aside from its scholarly value, is the life it injects into what can amount to a dull subject. As a Muslim who roams freely between the many manifestations of Islam, both legally speaking and spiritually speaking, I found this work to be helpful in my own engagement with the Divine.