Existence & the Fall: Spiritual Anthropology of Islam

For many people, the primordial Fall of humankind from Heaven to Earth is a tale filled with blame and myth. In this treatment, the Fall is examined from a mystico-philosophical perspective, calling upon essential elements of both Islamic and Western philosophy, new and old. It speaks of the world and heavens from and which the Fall took place. By taking into consideration the pivotal role of sin and rebellion against heaven, this work surveys the historical facets of the Fall, tracing its various stages – from the divine heavens to its entry into the mythical realms – until its final station and the appearance of the modern world. The study continues by expounding the various interpretations of man and the universe in the stages of the Fall and culminates by addressing the plight of contemporary man and the difficulties of the modern anthropological perspective. Intuitive and optimistic, it leaves the reader with a strong sense of hope in human potential and the human condition.

Hamid Parsania is an Iranian cleric with tens of books and articles to his credit on subjects such as philosophy and mysticism. He is currently the chancellor of the Bāqir al-ʿUlūm University in Qum.