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The publication of The Sufis in 1964 was a watershed for the development of Sufi philosophy in the West. It remains a dynamic book of instruction for modern times.
Celebrating The Sufis at 60 – the 20th century’s most influential book on Sufism
News
Watch our animated ‘Tale of the Sands’
We all fear change and yet change is the very essence of life. How does a stream cross the mighty, desolate desert? Can it allow itself to change its very form to survive the journey?
Hand-Printed Idries Shah Teaching-Stories
Next year is the centenary of Idries Shah’s birth in 1924. To celebrate, we’re excited to announce the creation of five hundred hand-printed folios of Idries Shah’s best-loved teaching-stories. There are five stories in all and just 100 copies of each have been printed. Each is a Sufi classic tale collected and previously published by … Read More
Patti Schneider 1934-2023
We’re sad to announce the passing of ISF’s friend, Aubrey Davis, the Canadian writer and master storyteller.
Rumi’s Enduring Influence
We visit the tomb of the 13th century Afghan-born Sufi, Jalaluddin Rumi, in Konya, Turkey. Idries Shah drew extensively from his teaching, adapting Sufism — just as Rumi did — to his time and environment. Watch the video below or in Full HD on YouTube
Blog: Octagon Rumi Backlist
Beginning in 1979, just as the soon-to-be-popular (and popularised) books on Rumi and his poetry began to flood the western market, The Octagon Press, the publishing predecessor of ISF, printed two important titles on Rumi. Both books were produced for the general public and remain authentic landmark works about the Sufi luminary. Those titles are: … Read More
We visit the ‘birthplace’ of Mulla Nasrudin – and the centre of the Earth
On World Storytelling Day, the Idries Shah Foundation is celebrating the eternal appeal and exploits of the incomparable, incredible and inimitable folk legend, Mulla Nasrudin.
Celebrating World Storytelling Day
On World Storytelling Day, the Idries Shah Foundation is celebrating the eternal appeal and exploits of the incomparable, incredible and inimitable folk legend, Mulla Nasrudin.
With Sufi ideas under threat ISF is reseeding them through its translations project
‘In many Islamic countries, the Sufi outlook is increasingly under threat.’ ISF is working to renew this ancient tradition.
Interview: Idries Shah’s books hold the answers
Dr Mohammad Farid Bazger has overseen the distribution of hundreds of thousands of illustrated storybooks to children in Afghanistan, many of them traditional tales collected by Idries Shah.