Islam and Sufism an introduction

Shaikh Sadi was a scholar of Islam. He was a teacher and author of two famous books, Bostan and Gulistan. His contemporaries were  Ibn Arabi (1165-1240), jalal uddin Rumi (1207-1273), Farid uddin Attar 1150-1222) and many others. Here  is a quote of Shaikh Sadi. Wash thy hands, o wise one, from a friend, who is sitting together, with thy foe

Shaikh Sadi ( 1184- 1283)  Lived through the golden age of Islam but also witnessed the death and destruction inflicted by the Mongol invasion in the entire region east of Egypt. In Baghdad alone in 1258 close to a million people were killed in a city of less than 2 million. Institutions of higher learning masques were destroyed. Here is a quote from his Bostan. Khaliq Thou, O creature of G-d, wast created of the dust; therefore, be humble as the dust. Be not covetous, nor oppressive, nor headstrong. Thou art from the dust; be not like fire. When the terrible fire raised his head in pride, the dust prostrated itself in humility.

The injunction of Islam to seek knowledge was given a high priority by early Muslims. Quite early in their  history Muslim started to excel in Science, Philosophy, medicine, architecture, governance and vertically in every other field. The rulers valued education and scholarship and contributed heavily in support of education and on  institutions of learning.  Al-Kindi (800-873) a polymath(expert in several fields) was appointed by the by the Abbaside Caliph to lead team of translators to translate Greek  works on science, medicine, philosophy etc, into Arabic. (from Arabic many of these works were translated into Latin and other European languages). Here is a link to a discussion on Al. Kindi on a BBC  rodio 4 a program called "In Our Times". https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=5bPjs8L99Hk&t=147s Another shorter tape on Al Kindi https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=T3tKtuXqUio