Walter H. Annenberg Professor of the Humanities
University of Pennsylvania
Publications
"Remarkably lucid and erudite, After Rumi is an exemplary model for how to write the history of Sufi groups. Deftly exploring the relationship between literature, sociopolitical dynamics, and religious authority, it is a pivotal contribution to scholarship in Sufi, Ottoman, and Islamic studies"
"A singular achievement... "
"A vivid account of how the Mevlevi community shaped the social, religious, and linguistic landscapes of Anatolia and the Ottoman Empire... Elias's fresh and nuanced interpretations show how the Mevlevis became a central—though often overlooked—part of Rumi's legacy."
"A groundbreaking and provocative contribution to the fields of comparative religion, philosophy, visual culture, and art history."
"In its exploration of a non-Western approach to semiotics and visual culture, as well as its detailed explication of Islamic history and Muslim practices and scholarship, [Alef is for Allah] deserves to be regarded as a new classic in the field of religious studies."
"The first groundbreaking study of the emotional space occupied by children in modern Islamic societies... Alef Is for Allah extends the boundaries of scholarship on emotion, religion, and visual culture and provides unique insight into Islam as it is lived and experienced in the modern world."
"This beautifully written and tightly argued book marks an entirely new departure in the study of Islam. Elias advances theoretical work in multiple fields through a focus on material culture directed at children... The book is indispensable for a sophisticated understanding of Islamic visual cultures, childhood as the crucial locus for articulating gender, and contemporary society in Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey.”
Illustrated with beautiful colour photos throughout, On Wings of Diesel takes us on a journey through the fascinating world of Pakistani truck decoration. Ornately adorned and considered as moving art, these trucks – veritable roving exhibitions – depict all aspects of life and support a highly developed artisanal industry. Examining designs and motifs, the cultural significance of the practice, and the motivations of truck owners, Elias provides a unique window on Pakistan’s complex society that addresses questions of culture and religion in an accessible and exciting way.
Death Before Dying: The Sufi poems of
Sultan Bahu
These 115 poems introduce readers in English to Sultan Bahu (d. 1691), a Sufi mystical poet who continues to be one of the most beloved writers in Punjabi. Bahu, whose name translates as "With God," remains highly popular in Pakistan and India today.
This Is Islam: From Muhammad and the Community of Believers to Islam in the Global Community presents a lively introduction to a religion that has a dramatic history and plays a crucial role in the world today. Designed for people unfamiliar with Islamic beliefs, rituals, and customs, it explains the history of Islam, the importance of Islamic law, and major sects including Sunnism, Shi’ism, and Sufism.
This is Islam
Key Themes for the Study of Islam examines the central themes and concepts indispensable to an informed understanding of Islamic religion and society. This book will become the first choice for students and experts in religion from disparate fields who wish to know how Islam relates to vital concepts in religion and society today.
Key Themes for the Study of Islam
The Throne Carrier of God is a comprehensive investigation of the life and teachings of one of the most famous Sufis of the Iranian world. Working primarily from Arabic and Persian manuscripts of Simnani's writings, the author has analyzed Simnani's thinking to show the overall coherence of his world-view and to demonstrate the importance of his ideas to the development of Islamic mysticism.