Few books have shaped how Muslims talk about the inner life as much as al-Risala al-Qushayriyya, often called al-Qushayri’s Epistle on Sufism. Written in eleventh-century Khurasan, it is still taught today. This introduction explains who the author was, what the book contains, and how a beginner can approach it calmly.
Quick answer
Short answer: The Risala is an Arabic handbook of Sufism written around 1045–46 CE by Abu al-Qasim al-Qushayri (986–1072) of Nishapur. It gathers biographies of early Sufis, explains key technical terms, and walks through the stations and states of the path, beginning with repentance (overview).
Key takeaways
- Author: ‘Abd al-Karim ibn Hawazin al-Qushayri, born 986 CE (376 AH), died 1072 CE (465 AH) (biography).
- Written: around 1045–46 CE, in Arabic (Library of Congress).
- Three main parts: early Sufi biographies, technical terms, and stations and states of the path.
- Long reach: translated into English, French, German, Persian, Turkish and Urdu.
Who was al-Qushayri?
Al-Qushayri was born in 986 CE and spent most of his life in Nishapur, in the region of Khurasan in today’s north-eastern Iran (biography). He was a Shafi’i jurist, a transmitter of hadith and a Qur’an commentator, as well as a spiritual teacher.
His teacher on the path was the Nishapur shaykh Abu ‘Ali al-Daqqaq, whose daughter Fatima he married. He also studied with the Sufi scholar al-Sulami, who is quoted on almost every page of the Risala (biography).
The Library of Congress catalogue describes him as a trusted hadith narrator, equally versed in Shafi’i law and theology (Library of Congress). This mix of law, hadith and spirituality is the key to his book.
Why he wrote the Risala
According to scholarly summaries, al-Qushayri had three aims (overview). He wanted to show that the beliefs of the early Sufi masters matched mainstream Sunni belief. He wanted to present Sufism as a recognised field of knowledge with its own vocabulary.
His third aim was to separate the genuine tradition from the conduct of people who imitated Sufis without its discipline. For a modern reader, this makes the Risala a book about balance: inner devotion held firmly within the law and the Sunnah.
Good to know
The Library of Congress holds a manuscript of the Risala copied in Fez in 1220 CE, in Maghribi script, and it can be viewed online (Library of Congress). It shows how widely the book had travelled within two centuries.
What the book covers
The Risala opens with a statement of belief, covering divine oneness, the divine attributes and prophethood (overview). Three main parts follow.
The structure of the Risala
1
Creed: a preface setting out the core beliefs of the early Sufis.
2
Biographies: short accounts of more than eighty early Sufi figures, in chronological order, with their sayings.
3
Technical terms: definitions of terms such as waqt (the present moment), maqam (station) and dhikr, traced back to the Qur’an and Sunnah.
4
Stations and states: chapters on tawba (repentance), zuhd (renunciation), sabr (patience), shukr (gratitude) and onward to ma’rifa (knowledge of God).
One scholarly overview counts 83 biographies, 27 terms and 44 stations and states, while the Library of Congress description counts 82 biographies (overview; Library of Congress). Exact counts vary between descriptions and editions, so treat them as approximate.
How the Risala compares with Kashf al-Mahjub
Readers often meet the Risala alongside al-Hujwiri’s Kashf al-Mahjub, which we introduced in Kashf al-Mahjub: A Reader’s Introduction. Both come from the same century and region, but they differ in language and style.
| Al-Risala al-Qushayriyya | Kashf al-Mahjub | |
|---|---|---|
| Author | al-Qushayri of Nishapur | al-Hujwiri, who later lived in Lahore |
| Language | Arabic | Persian |
| Century | 11th century CE | 11th century CE |
| English translation | Modern (Alexander D. Knysh), still in copyright | Public-domain Nicholson, 1911 |
Its influence
The Risala became one of the most widely used Sufi handbooks in the Muslim world (overview). Its English translator, Alexander Knysh, called it “probably the most popular Sufi manual ever,” as reported in the same overview.
Later scholars wrote commentaries on it, including Zakariyya al-Ansari and Mulla ‘Ali al-Qari. Through al-Qushayri’s student Abu ‘Ali al-Farmadi, who taught al-Ghazali, its spirit also fed into later classics.
How to approach reading it
The Risala is built from short chapters rather than one long argument, which makes it friendly to slow reading. Our guide How to Read Classical Sufi Texts covers the general method; here are points specific to this book.
Reading the Risala well
- Begin with the chapters on repentance, patience and gratitude before the more advanced states
- Read one short chapter at a time and note the Qur’an verses and hadith it cites
- Keep a glossary; our Sufi terms guide is a good start
- Treat sayings of early figures as wisdom to reflect on, not as rulings
- Ask a qualified teacher when a passage seems unclear or surprising
Tip
The modern English translation by Alexander D. Knysh is still under copyright, so borrow or buy it rather than downloading unofficial copies. The Arabic manuscript at the Library of Congress is freely viewable.
Closing reflection
The Risala invites readers to see the inner life as something rooted in faith, law and good character, not apart from them. Read slowly, start with the foundational virtues, and let the book point you back to sincere worship.
This article is general educational content. Last checked: 6 October 2026.