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Life and teaching of Ibn 'Arabi

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Ibn 'Arabi : Biography

Ibn 'Arabi was born in Murcia in Spain, and his family moved to Seville when he was eight. He experienced an extraordinary mystical "unveiling" (kashf) or "opening" (fotuh) at about the age of fifteen; this is mentioned in his famous account of his meeting with Averroes (Addas, pp. 53-58; Chittick, 1989, pp. xiii-xiv). Only after this original divine "attraction" (jadhba) did he begin disciplined Sufi practice (soluk), perhaps at the age of twenty (Addas, p. 53; Chittick, 1989, pp. 383-84). Ibn 'Arabi studied the traditional sciences, Hadith in particular, with many masters; he mentions about ninety of these in an autobiographical note (Badawi). In 597/1200 he left Spain for good, with the intention of making the hajj.

  
  


Ibn 'Arabi : Bibliography

- Addas, Claude. The Quest for the Red Sulphur: The Life of Ibn `Arabi. Translated by Peter Kingsley. Cambridge: Islamic Texts Society, 1993: Unique chronological account of Ibn al-`Arabi's life and travels, based on a detailed analysis of his writings, as well as a vast amount of secondary literature in Arabic and Persian. Brings to life his spiritual quest, and places his work within that context.
- Ibn al-`Arabi, Muhyi ad-Din. Journey to the Lord of Power: A Sufi Manual on Retreat. Translated by Rabia Terri Harris. New York: Inner Traditions International, 1981: This manual of instruction on khalwah, or spiritual retreat, by the great spiritual master, Ibn al-`Arabi (1165-1240), provides unique insight into this important Sufi practice.
- Ibn al-`Arabi, Muhyi ad-Din. The Bezels of Wisdom. Translated by R. W. J. Austin. Ramsey, NJ: Paulist Press, 1980: Ibn al-`Arabi's (1165-1240) famous work of prophetology. Allegorically represents the Prophets as dimensions of man's inner being. Difficult but rewarding.
- Ibn al-`Arabi, Muhyi ad-Din. What the Seeker Needs. Translated by Shaikh Tosun Bayrak al- Jerrahi and Rabia Terri Harris al-Jerrahi. Putney, VT: Threshold Books, 1992: Three short treatises by the great master. The first is an important essay on the essentials necessary for the spiritual aspirant to embark on the path, the second is a discourse on the divine unity, and the third is an analysis of the polar dimensions of Divine Majesty and Beauty. Contains an excellent glossary of Sufi technical terms.
- Ibn al-`Arabi, Muhyi ad-Din. The Tarjuman Al-Ashwaq: A Collection of Mystical Odes. Translated by Reynold A. Nicholson. London: Theosophical Publishing House, 1978: A highly regarded collection of mystical love poems by the great master of Sufi doctrine, Ibn al-`Arabi. The difficult imagery is rendered intelligible by the author's own commentary.
- Ibn al-`Arabi, Muhyi ad-Din. Sufis of Andalusia: The Ruh al-quds and al-Durrat al-fakhirah of Ibn `Arabi. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1971: In this fascinating compilation from two collections of biographical sketches, Ibn al-`Arabi tells of the many spiritual masters he met on his travels through Muslim Spain in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Ibn 'Arabi : Portraits

Ibn Arabi
Ibn 'Arabi
Ibn Arabi
Ibn 'Arabi

Ibn 'Arabi : Links

Islam, Abd el-Kader, Abu Bakr al Sabbak, Abu Sa'id, Adda Bentounčs, Ahmad Al-Alawi, Al Nuri, Al-Junayd, Araqi, Attar, Baba Kuhi of Shiraz, Bistami, Cheikh Ahmed Tidiane Sy, Cheikh Bamba Dieye, Dhu-l-Nun, Frithjof Schuon, Ghazzali, Hallaj, Hujwiri, Ibn 'Arabi, Ibn' Ata' Allah, Iraqi, Jami, Kalabadhi, Khaled Bentounčs, Nazir, Others Sufis Teaching, Rabia al-Adawiyya, Rumi, Shabistari, Sheikh Badruddin, Sheikh Muzaffer, Sidi Hamza al Qâdiri al Boutchichi, Umar Ibn Al-Farid, etc.

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