''The Book of Mirdad'' is an allegorical book of philosophy by Lebanese author Mikha'il Na'ima. The book was first published in Lebanon in 1948 and was initially written in English, with Na'ima later translating it into Arabic. Na'ima initially sought to have the book published in London, where it was rejected for " dvancinga religion with 'a new dogma'". In 1973 the book was adapted into a three-act play by Padukone Ramanand.

Synopsis

The book is presented as a series of dialogues between Mirdad, the abbot of a monastery, and his disciples. ''The Book of Mirdad'' draws on a variety of philosophies, including that of

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Sufi Islam Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...

. Through the allegories in the book presented by Mirdad, Na'ima presents several themes and calls for the unity of different people groups in universal love, as well as criticizing materialism and empty religious rituals. Mirdad's dialogs gives out teachings which show us how it is possible to transform our consciousness and uncover the God within, by dissolving our sense of duality.

Reception

A reviewer for ''

Philosophy East and West ''Philosophy East and West'' is a peer-reviewed academic journal covering non-Western traditions of philosophy in relation to Anglo-American philosophy, integrating the discipline with literature, science, and social practices. Special issues have ...

'' praised the book, citing Na'ima's "power of enthusiasm and persuasion" as a highlight. The Indian god-man Osho mentioned ''The Book of Mirdad'' in his book ''A Song Without Words'', saying that it "can be of immense help if you don't expect, and it is a book worth reading thousands of times." Osho has also mentioned that this book is the only book that has been successful in being written and if one fails to understand it, the failure is that of the reader and not the author’s. The book has been compared to John Bunyan's ''

The Pilgrim's Progress ''The Pilgrim's Progress from This World, to That Which Is to Come'' is a 1678 Christian allegory written by John Bunyan. It is commonly regarded as one of the most significant works of Protestant devotional literature and of wider early moder ...

'' in that both stories are largely allegorical. ''The Book of Mirdad'' has also been compared to Ameen Rihani's '' The Book of Khalid'', with the book being believed to have had an influence on Na'ima's writings. Na'ima has described the work as the "pinnacle of his thought and a summary of his view of life".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Book of Mirdad 1948 novels Lebanese novels Novels adapted into plays Philosophical novels