Dū l-nūn al-misrī and early Islamic Mysticism

The article analyzes some of the main teachings that are attributed to du l-Nun al-Misri (died ca 245/859-860), a prominent figure in the formative period of the Sufi tradition. These teachings are reflected in the many sayings that are ascribed to du l-Nun in Sufi literature, in non-Sufi biographical dictionaries, and in several other medieval Islamic sources, all dating from the 4th/10th century onwards. The article demonstrates the historical problems related to the figure of du l-Nun al-Misri, and, in this context, particular attention is given to the occult tendencies that are attributed to him in various writings.