ʿAzīz al-Nasafī

Mystic

ʿAzīz ibn Muḥammad al-Nasafī (known as “ ʿAziz-i Nasafī ”) was a Sufi mystic who flourished in 7th/13th Iran and Central Asia. Little is known of his personal life (especially his early years) except that which can be pieced together from his various works. His spiritual training is mostly associated with Šaykh Sa’d al-Dīn Hammuya, though there are indications that he studied with and was inspired by other masters as well. By 1260, Nasafī began to attract his own circle of students. He was relatively prolific in his writings and while they are not renowned for their originality, their importance is demonstrated by Nasafī’s ability “to incorporate all the major elements of Sufi belief as discussed by others and also to present them in a coherent fashion”. Additionally, perhaps contrary to the complexity associated with many Sufi teachings, Nasafī’s commentaries may be considered “forthright and simple, ” both in their message and in the manner they guide the student from the “formal dimensions of Islam to the esoteric”.