The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Aziz, Abdul

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Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1959-1968, 1990-1999

Volume: 70 item(s); 143 pg(s)

Scope and Content

This is a large and important cache of letters that sparked Merton's interest in Sufism. Included are original signed letters by Aziz, and carbon copies or photocopies of letters by Merton. Only Merton's side of the correspondence has yet been fully published and can be found in The Hidden Ground of Love. Selection from Aziz's side of the correspondence can be found in Merton and Sufism. Also in this group of records can be found correspondence between the Merton Center and Nicholas Heer in regards to obtaining some correspondence between Heer and Aziz. This correspondence dating from 1959 through 1962 is included in this collection.

Biography

Living in Karachi, Pakistan, Abdul Aziz can be attributed with sparking Merton's first interest in Sufism, an interest later shared with his novices at Gethsemani. Beginning their correspondence in late 1960, Merton and Aziz would exchange books and ideas. Aziz was introduced to Merton's work through Louis Massignon, a mutual friend. An important insight from these letters is Merton's response to Aziz's request for a description of his prayer life.

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Arrangement is chronological, except correspondence between Aziz and Nicholas Heer to be found at the end of the sequence.

Related Information and Links

See also Cold War Letters #67 and other correspondence from Merton to Aziz published in The Hidden Ground of Love, pp. 43-67; see also some selections of letters from Aziz in Merton & Sufism; and see also the "Basetti-Sani, Giulio" and the "Massignon, Louis" files.

Other Finding Aids

If the person in correspondence with Merton has full text records in the Merton Center Digital Collections, there will be a numeric link to them below.
   

Series List

This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.

Container List

SeriesDateTypeTo/FromFirst LinesPubFull TextNotes
 1959/09/02 TALSto Nicholas HeerI have come to know you through Mr. Nooruddin Shoreibah (of 3, Ali Galal Street, Manial, Cairo - UAR  editing of Hakim Tirmizi's work / Islamic mysticism / Sufism / al-Muhasibi / Kharraz / Junaid / Hujwiri / Louis Massignon / al-Kubra / Ibn Arabi / asking about state of research into Islamic mysticism in the U.S. / names of U.S. Orientalists
 1959/11/18 HLS from Heer, Nicholas / to Abdul AzizLet me first apologize for not answering your letter of 22 September 1959 before this. I am  sending article similar to introduction to <i>Bayan al-Farq</i> / Hakim Tirmizi / Tasawwuf / not much interest in Islamic mysticism in America
 1959/12/17 TALSto Nicholas HeerI am in receipt of your letter dated the 18th November and I am extremely grateful to you for  Ithbat al-'Ilal / suggestions of what Heer should include in forthcoming book / Shah Waliullah of Delhi / manuscripts of Tirmizi's work / Ismail Sahib / obtaining Sufi works from various collections / Aziz's plans for book on Sufism
 1960/01/25 TALSto Nicholas HeerI had replied to your letter dated 18th November 1959 on 17th December 1959, and I hope you would  manuscript of Ithbat al-Ilal of Hakim Tirmizi / obtaining other Sufi texts from various collections / "The World of Islam" dedicated to Prof. P.K. Hitti / requests list of Princeton Univ.'s oriental text series
 1960/11/01 TALSto MertonI am in correspondence with a Prof. Louis Massignon of Paris, the common bond of correspondence  Islamic mysticism, Sufism / Christian mysticism - <i>The Ascent to Truth</i>, St. John of the Cross / Hindu Yoga / Fr. Paul Nwyia / Ibn Abbad / how to obtain Merton's books and other books on mysticism
 1960/11/17 (#01)TALS[x]from MertonIt was a pleasure for me to receive your good letter and I am certainly grateful to our mutualYes not sending <i>Seeds of Contemplation</i> due to early ignorance of Sufism that Merton hopes to correct in <i>New Seeds</i> / Husayn Mansur Hallaj and Rumi / Nwyia's book on John of the Cross and Ibn Abbad / recommended books / Imam Riza
 1960/11/17 (#02)HNS[x]from Mertonto Abdul Aziz - very cordially T. MertonYes [notecard with the poem, "Wisdom" and Merton's signature]
 1960/12/20 TALSto MertonI am extremely grateful to you for your very helpful and affectionate reply to my earlier letter.  background on Imam Riza and the Shiahs / Merton's poem on "wisdom" / asks for background on Trappist Order, Our Lady of Gethsemani, and Our Lady of Fatima (origin of Fatima, a Muslim name) / background on Ibn Abbad of Ronda / Paul Nwyia
 1961/01/30 (#01)TALS[x]from MertonYour admirable letter of December 20th reached me promptly and I was deeply touched by yourYes Imam Riza - poem from Cincinnati Museum / Al Ansari / Taoism / Trappist life / solitary life at Gethsemani analogous to Sufis and orthodox Muslim community legalism / significance of Mary for Gethsemani and at Fatima / Islamic revival
 1961/01/30 (#02)otherfrom MertonHere is the threshold of holiness in the dust of the road / Where mighty kings have laid their heads  "Fragment of poem from the Tomb Cover of Imam Riza (Cincinnati Museum)", Xeroxed copy of attachment to 1961/01/30 letter
 1961/03/08 TALSto MertonI was greatly pleased to receive your letter last month and regret that due to official  quotes Louis Massignon in stating Merton a "'simurgh', (a very rare bird) among [his] Order" / Muslim "Night of Power" / similarity between John of the Cross and Hakim Tirmizi / interest in mystical prayer in Islam / Imam Riza poem
 1961/05/13 (#01)TALS[x]from MertonIt has been a long time since I received your good letter of March 8th. The books took a greatYes Titus Burckhardt on Sufism / reading Ibn Arabi to theology students / Sir M. Iqbal / criticism of John of the Cross and Moroccan mystic book / E. Allison Peers / Tawhid and Rhenish and Flemish mystics of the 14th century - Eckhart, influenced by Avicenna
 1961/05/13 (#02)other Like a jeweled peacock he stirs all over / With fireflies. He takes his pleasure in / Lights. He is  poem attached to 1961/05/13 letter "THE MOSLEMS' ANGEL OF DEATH / (Algeria 1961)"
 1961/09/24 TALS[x]from MertonIt is a very long time since I have had a letter from you and I am beginning to think that somethingYes Sufi book on truthfulness / Henri Corbin's book on Ibn Arabi / Greek fathers and the <i>theoria physike</i>, "natural contemplation" / Wisdom (Sophia) / Kashf Al-Majub / sending Cuadra letter / nuclear weapons / Third World / situation in Pakistan
 1961/11/15 TLS from Douglas, Elmer H. / to Nicholas HeerSome time ago I received a letter from one of your correspondents in Pakistan, Mr. Abdul Aziz. He  <u>Muslim World</u> containing Heer's four articles on "A Sufi Psychology" / Illal al-Ibadat / off-prints of Bayan
 1961/11/18 TALSto Merton1. I am in receipt of both your letters as well as a copy of your open letter to Cuadra. In the  Sirdar Iqbal Ali Shah / Kashf al Majub / Holy Names of Allah / "The Moslems' Angel of Death" (Azrael) / ascetic elements of mystic spirituality and the Incarnation / U.S.-Russia and Gog-Magog / nuclear war / Tawhid / Tirmizi / St. Basil / Aziz's biography
 1961/12/24 TALSto MertonI sent you a letter on the 18th November 1961 which, I hope, would have been received by you in due  requests some of Merton's writings on the English Mystics and a study about Taoism and comparative themes in other mystical traditions
 1962/02/23 TALSto Nicholas HeerI was greatly pleased to receive your generous gift of 4 off-print copies of your English  information about obtaining more Sufi works and translations / suggests translating ascetical treatises of Al-Tirmidhi / Illal-al-Ibadat / Shah Waliullah / Al-Qushary / writing to Merton / Louis Massignon / French Orientalist Prof. M. Molé's research on the Naqshpandi Order
 1962/04/04 (#01)TALS[x]from MertonFinally I must answer your letters, at least briefly. A brief answer will be better than none atYes article on English mystics / letter about "the Giants" / Gog and Magog in the Quran / Sufi religious psychology / notes on mystical theology / Eckhart / St. Basil's influence on St. Benedict / formalism / Al Hujswiri / biographical notes from Merton / book against nuclear war
 1962/04/04 (#02)transcriptfrom MertonFinally I must answer your letters, at least briefly. A brief answer will be better than none atYes [same as other letter of this date, but from the collected Cold War Letters - Cold War Letters #67]
 1962/04/04 (#03)other[x]from MertonSONG FOR THE DEATH OF AVERROËS (from Ibn Al Arabi, after the Spanish version of Asin Palacios.)  [Merton's poem "Song for the Death of Averroës," signed with a note to Aziz enclosed with 1962/April/04 letter]
 1962/04/04 (#04)other[x]from MertonA LETTER TO PABLO ANTONIO CUADRA CONCERNING GIANTS [-] 1. [-] At a moment when all the  [Merton's letter/essay "A Letter to Pablo Antonio Cuadra Concerning Giants," signed with a note to Aziz enclosed with 1962/April/04 letter]
 1962/04/04 (#05)other[x]from MertonMISCELLANEA MONASTICA [-] THE ENGLISH MYSTICS. In regard to some recent books  [First page of Merton's essay on "The English Mystics," signed with a note to Aziz enclosed with 1962/April/04 letter]
 1962/04/04 (#06)other[x]from MertonSAN JUAN DE LA CRUZ [-] C.D. CANTOR DEL AMOR DIVINO [-] ¡Cuán manso y amoroso  [copy of the envelope sent to Aziz with a prayer card of St. John of the Cross enclosed with 1962/April/04 letter]
 1962/06/21 TALSto MertonI acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your letter enclosing an offprint of your review-article on  English Mystics - "Song for the Death of Averroes" / books on Sufi shrines and saints / John of the Cross and Tirmizi / St. Basil's ascetical works / translation of Hakim at-Tirmizi on mortification of desires
 1962/12/18 TALSto MertonI had replied to your letter on 21st June, 1962 in which I raised a number of queries but I have not  thanks for <i>Breakthrough to Peace</i> book / John of the Cross / asks Merton what he means in <i>Ascent to Truth</i> by "'darkening' of all desire" and "analogical movement or attitude" / death of Louis Massignon
 1962/12/26 (#01)TALS[x]from MertonIt is certainly true that I deserve your mild and kind reproach for being a poor correspondent.Yes Iqbar Ali Shah / Louis Massignon's death / Christian-Moslem dialogue / book on Nuclear war not published - sending mimeograph / Mary in the Koran / John of the Cross / detachment depending on self-knowledge / purifying effect of aridity
 1962/12/26 (#02)TALS[x]from MertonIt is certainly true that I deserve your mild and kind reproach for being a poor correspondent.Yes [darker copy of 1962/12/26 letter / some parts easier to read on this one and some on the other]
 1963/04/04 TALSto MertonI am in receipt of your letter dated the 26th December, 1962 received by me in the first week of  Merton's distinction between "exterior renunciation" and "interior detachment" / Islamic beliefs / John of the Cross / <i>Way of the Pilgrim</i>
 1963/06/02 TALS[x]from MertonMany thanks for your good letter of April 4th. I am sorry I have been so slow in replying, but IYes Hakim at-Tirmizi translation / differences in soteriology / Islam and Christianity - different words talking about the same realities / Russian mystics and <i>The Way of the Pilgrim</i> / "Jesus prayer" and Sufi prayer parallels
 1963/08/02 TALSto MertonMany thanks for you [sic] kind reply of June 2nd. I delayed my reply awaiting the receipt of the  asks about obtaining many other books / question of Muslims and "Salvation" / Aziz asks what are the tenants of the Christian faith / daily routine of solitary retreat / salvation of all faiths
 1963/10/18 TL[c]from MertonThe delay in replying to your letter is due to three things: first, my desire to read the books youYes Ahmad al Alawi - "speak[ing] the same language", more than those in this country / Martin Lings / Schuon on Islam - "exegesis of the Bismallah" / explains the Trinity / salvation for the good in all religions / the Philokalia / Merton's Khalwa / Simeon the New Theologian
 1963/12/19 HLSto MertonI am grateful to you for your detailed reply but as you had kindly mentioned therein that you would  Merton's hospitalization / Martin Ling / 8 Sufi conditions for Khalwa / Khalwa's traditional duration of 40 days / Orientalist contact for English translations of Sufis / Dr. Nicholas Heer of Yale - translator / requests Butler's <i>Lives of the Saints</i>
 1964/06/28 TL[c]from MertonOnly now am I getting around to answering your fine letter of last November or December. I know youYes Pope Pius XI and salvation for non-Christians / Titus Burkhardt's book on Fes in Morocco / Khalwa and time in the hermitage / silence at Gethsemani / Orientalists for translation / Malaval in translation / John of the Cross and St. Teresa / Jakob Boehme / Achmad al'Alawi
 1964/12/09 (#01)TL[c]from MertonIt was a pleasure to get your letter this morning. Certainly I hope to write you a long reply withYes Fr. G. Basetti Sani, O.F.M. - book on Mohammed and St. Francis / Moslem-Catholic dialogue / Jakob Boehme / <i>Seeds of Destruction</i> / Ibn Abad de Ronda / hermitage / "idolatry of <u>concepts</u> as well as of graven images"
 1964/12/09 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonIt was a pleasure to get your letter this morning. Certainly I hope to write you a long reply withYes Fr. G. Basetti Sani, O.F.M. - book on Mohammed and St. Francis / Moslem-Catholic dialogue / Jakob Boehme / <i>Seeds of Destruction</i> / Ibn Abad de Ronda / hermitage / "idolatry of <u>concepts</u> as well as of graven images"
 1965/11/01 TALSto MertonIn your December reply to my X'mas and New Years greetings you had kindly promised to send me a  A. J. Arberry's rhymed translation of Quran and Persian Sufis / review of <i>A Moslem Saint of the Twentieth Century</i> / Fr. Julio B. Sani / "Thomas Merton, the Mans and His Meaning" article / St. Bonaventure
 1965/11/02 TALS[x]from MertonI am really sorry for my long silence, and I know that there is no real way to make amends for it at  not possible to keep up a good correspondence / sending Chuang Tzu adaptation / rendering of Ibn Abbad from French translation / living in solitude
 1965/11/07 (#01)TL[c]from MertonYesterday, two days after sending off my letter to you, I received your letter. I was very happy toYes relays impossibility of keeping regular correspondence / Arberry's translation of Coran (Koran/Quran) - Merton's personal use - chanting / Ibn Abbad / Chuang Tzu / liturgy book - <i>Seasons of Celebration</i> / thoughts about Merton bio in <u>Laurel</u> / thoughts on Catholic clergy / Nasafi
 1965/11/07 (#02)TALS[x]from MertonYesterday, two days after sending off my letter to you, I received your letter. I was very happy toYes relays impossibility of keeping regular correspondence / Arberry's translation of Coran (Koran/Quran) - Merton's personal use - chanting / Ibn Abbad / Chuang Tzu / liturgy book - <i>Seasons of Celebration</i> / thoughts about Merton bio in <u>Laurel</u> / thoughts on Catholic clergy / Nasafi
 1965/12/01 TALSto MertonI am in receipt of your two letters dated 2nd Nov. and 7th Nov. '65 respectively, the former having  chanting the Quran / Merton's renderings of Ibn Abbad / Syed Idrees Shah / al-Junayd, mystic of Baghdad / Nasafi / Walayat (sainthood) / hermitage and meditation methods / suggestion for book on knowing God through psychological perspectives - psychoanalytic applications of ethics
 1965/12/20 TALSto MertonI had sent you a detailed letter on the 2nd instant which I hope you would have received by now. I  reaction to idea for a book by Merton on "How to Know God", including suggested chapters on "Detachment, Mortification of desire etc. but psychological reasons should be given" / not treated in a dogmatic manner
 1965/12/25? TLS[x]from MertonI hate to resort to mimeographed letters, but it has now become completely impossible forYes [labelled "A CHRISTMAS LETTER 1965 ABBEY OF GETHSEMANI KY"]
 1966/01/02 (#01)TL[c]from MertonI have your two kind letters of Dec. 1 and Dec. 20th and once again I will try within my capacity toYes idea of writing another book on prayer / Ibn Abbad suggestions for book / Syes Idrees Shah and al-Junayd / Pierre Teilhard de Chardin / suicide of Dr. Molé / Malaval - quietists / Zaehner / daily routine as hermit / Merton's method of meditation
 1966/01/02 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonI have your two kind letters of Dec. 1 and Dec. 20th and once again I will try within my capacity toYes idea of writing another book on prayer / Ibn Abbad suggestions for book / Syes Idrees Shah and al-Junayd / Pierre Teilhard de Chardin / suicide of Dr. Molé / Malaval - quietists / Zaehner / daily routine as hermit / Merton's method of meditation
 1966/01/26 TALSto MertonAs I read in the article about you in 'Laurels' that you saw the light of the day on 31st Jan. 1915,  happy 51st birthday / suggestions about diet and thoughts on Merton's austere diet / Islam and images of God - idolatry / Syed Idrees Shah / Al-Junayd / Ali Hassan Abdul Qadir and patriotic nationalism / Neo-Platonic influences on Sufism / Malik Barkat Ali / nature of good and evil in Chuang Tzu / Dr. John Wu
 1966/03/23 TALS[x]from MertonThanks for your find letter which I cannot answer adequately now as I am about to go to the hospital  book of Idries Shah - converting letters to numbers (and vice versa), liked chapter on Nasruddin / Junayd and Zaehner's thesis on him / hints on diet / "not making mental images of God" and the "divine Oneness" in Islam
 1966/04/04 HLSto MertonMy very dear good friend, I received your kind letter dt 23/3/66, while I was lying indisposed in my  de Caussade / Ibn Abbad
 1966/12/28 TL[c]from MertonYour good letter reached me in this season of holy days and I have not failed to keep you in myYes operation and slow recovery / Al Junayd / Zaehner and the western academic mind's scientific outlook, not attuned to the mind of the ancient / life as a hermit / visit from Algerian Sufi master Sidi Abdesalam / Sheikh Ahmad al Alawi / Bernard Phillips / R.M. Bucke Society of Montreal
 1967/12/18 TALSto MertonI have not heard from you since long time. I hope you would be keeping fit. I know you are very  Dom François de Sales Pollien's books <i>The Interior Life</i> and <i>Self-Abandonment to Divine Providence</i> by J.P. de Caussade / Syed Hossein Nasr / Hakim Tirmizi and reading in solitude
 1968/01/16 TL[c]from MertonI was happy to receive your letter of December 18th. Also especially thank you for your greetingsYes Carthusian Dom Pollien / Caussade and similarity to ascetics of Sufism / blockage of Suez Canal / conferences for monks on Sufism / remarks about reading in solitude / sending the <i>Cloud of Unknowing</i>
 1968/04/24 (#01)TL[c]from MertonI want to say that some time ago I received the book of Seyyed Hossein Nasr safely and that I am nowYes Nasr's book "one of the very best books on Islam" / sending books on Zen Buddhism / <i>Mystics and Zen Masters</i> / weekly talks to Gethsemani monks on Sufism / sad state of the country and of the world
 1968/04/24 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonI want to say that some time ago I received the book of Seyyed Hossein Nasr safely and that I am nowYes Nasr's book "one of the very best books on Islam" / sending books on Zen Buddhism / <i>Mystics and Zen Masters</i> / weekly talks to Gethsemani monks on Sufism / sad state of the country and of the world
 1990/12/04 HLS[x]to Shannon, WilliamI had acknowledged with thanks the receipt on 30th August, 1990 of your kind letter dt. 25th Jan,   
 1991/10/29 HLS[x]to Shannon, WilliamI heaved a sigh of relief to receive your long-awaited letter dt. 3/10/91 which reached me on 20.10.   
 1991/12/06 HLS[x]to Shannon, WilliamOn receipt of your long-awaited letter dt. 3.10.1991, I sent you an aerogramme dt. 29.10.1991,   
 1992/07/26 HLS[x]to Shannon, WilliamI acknowledge with deep gratitude and joy the receipt of your valuable gift of the book "Silent Lamp   
 1992/11/28 HLS[x]to Shannon, WilliamI hasten to send you my sincere greetings on your forthcoming 75th birthday anniversary falling   
 1993/05/15 HLS[x]to Shannon, WilliamI acknowedge with thanks the receipt of your kind and deightful letter dt. 10/1/93 (received on   
 1994/11/30 HLS[x]to Shannon, WilliamI acknowedge with gratitude your last letter dt. 31/12/93   
 1995/03/01 HLS[x]to Shannon, WilliamOn 15th December, 1994, I went to the local post office to send you my hearty greetings on the 77th   
 1995/12/05 HLS[x]to Shannon, WilliamOn 18th March, 1995, I sent you a detailed air mail lette acknowledging gratefully the receipt   
 1996/08/15 HLS[x]to Shannon, WilliamI acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your kind letter dt 31.12.93 (but actually posted on   
 1997/02/16 TLS[x]from Shannon, WilliamMy good friend, it has been a long time since I have written to you. I fear you have given up on me.   
 1997/04/15 HLS[x]to Shannon, WilliamI am glad that at long last you were good enough to find some time from your heavy preoccupations   
 1999/08/06 TL from Heer, Nicholas / to Rob BakerEnclosed are copies of the letters from Abdul Aziz. In addition to the one I informed you of in my  [to Rob Baker, Editorial Director of publishing house Fons Vitae in Louisville, Ky - published <i>Merton and Sufism: The Untold Story</i>] copying Jonathon Montaldo from Merton Center on this letter and sending copies of Aziz's letters / offers Merton Center originals when done
 1999/08/23 TLSto Center from Heer, NicholasThank you for your letter of 16 August 1999. Enclosed are the original Abdel [sic] Aziz letters  sending original letters of Aziz to Merton Center
 1999/09/18 TLSto Center from Heer, NicholasThank you for your letter of 11 September 1999. I'm glad to know that the Abdul Aziz letters  sending one more original Aziz letter
 undated/no/no other Ch. Abdul Aziz, whose letters sparked Merton's interest in Sufism, has lived all his life in Karachi  background information about Aziz, with references to other works, created by W. H. Shannon for <i>The Hidden Ground of Love</i>
 undated/no/no other My academic qualifications are of the highest order, being M.A., LL.B., I was a scholarship-holder  "Bio-Data of Ch. Abdul Aziz, M.A., LL.B., Advocate and Consultant, Collector of Customs and Central Excise (retd.)" / retired in 1974
        

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