Islamic philosophy and Sufism evolved as distinct yet interweaving strands of Islamic thought and practice. Despite differences, they have shared a concern with the perfection of the soul through the development of character. In The Polished Mirror , Cyrus Ali Zargar studies the ways in which, through teaching and storytelling, pre-modern Muslims lived, negotiated, and cultivated virtues. Examining the writings of philosophers, ascetics, poets, and saints, he locates virtue ethics within a dynamic moral tradition. Innovative, engaging, and approachable, this work - the first in the English language to explore Islamic ethics in the fascinating context of narrative - will be a valuable resource for both students and scholars. CONTENTS List of Illustrations Introduction Part One Islamic Philosophy Chapter One The Humors ( al-akhla ) and Character Traits ( al-akhlaq ) According to the Brethren of Purity Chapter Two Virtue Ethics in Avicenna's Philosophical Allegories Chapter Three The Virtues, from Philosophy to Scripture: Refining Character Traits in Miskawayh and Ghazali Chapter Four Reason, Revelation, and Discovering the Virtuous in Ibn ufayl's Literary Thought Experiment Chapter Five From Humors to Pure Light: Knowledge and Virtue in the Allegories of Suhrawardi Part Two Sufism Chapter Six The Soul's Constant Returning: Repentance ( Tawba ) in the Sufi Legacy of Jafar al-adiq Chapter Seven Distancing Oneself from the Worldly: Renunciation ( Zuhd ) According to al-Muasibi and al-Sarraj Chapter Eight Self-Awareness that Leads to Self-Loss: Fu t uwwa as a Compound Virtue in the Legacy of Anari Chapter Nine The Completion of Ethics: Self-Annihilation ( Fana ) Through the Lens of Aar Chapter Ten Virtue in the Narrative Poetry of Rumi Conclusion A Brief Case for Relevance Acknowledgments Bibliography Index.