EARLY ISLAMIC MYSTICISM Sufi, Qur’an, Mi`raj, Poetic and Theological Writings Michael A. Sells The texts in this volume represent four phases of classical Islamic spirituality: (1) The pre-Sufi phase includes the Qur’an, the central ritual elements of Islam, and the accounts of Muhammad’s Mi`raj; (2) The early period of Sufism includes the sayings and writings of the early Sufi masters such as Hasan of Basra, Dhun-Nun, Itabi`a, BistamT, Muhasibi, and Junayd, the legacies of whom have come down to us largely through collections of their sayings in the works of later writers.