Philosophical Sufism

<p>Analyzing the intersection between Sufism and philosophy this volume is a sweeping examination of the mystical philosophy of Mu?y?-l-D?n Ibn al-?Arab? (d. 637/1240) one of the most influential and original thinkers of the Islamic world. This book systematically covers Ibn al-?Arab?’s ontology theology epistemology teleology spiritual anthropology and eschatology.</p><p>While philosophy uses deductive reasoning to discover the fundamental nature of existence and Sufism relies on spiritual experience it was not until the school of Ibn al-?Arab? that philosophy and Sufism converged into a single framework by elaborating spiritual doctrines in precise philosophical language. Contextualizing the historical development of Ibn al-?Arab?’s school the work draws from the earliest commentators of Ibn al-?Arab?’s oeuvre ?adr al-D?n al-Q?naw? (d. 673/1274) ?Abd al-Razz?q al-K?sh?n? (d. ca. 730/1330) and Daw?d al-Qay?ar? (d. 751/1350) but also draws from the medieval heirs of his doctrines Sayyid ?aydar ?mul? (d. 787/1385) the pivotal intellectual and mystical figure of Persia who recast philosophical Sufism within the framework of Twelver Sh??ism and ?Abd al-Ra?m?n J?m? (d. 898/1492) the key figure in the dissemination of Ibn al-?Arab?’s ideas in the Persianate world as well as the Ottoman Empire India China and East Asia via Central Asia.</p><p>Lucidly written and comprehensive in scope with careful treatments of the key authors <i>Philosophical Sufism </i>is a highly accessible introductory text for students and researchers interested in Islam philosophy religion and the Middle East.</p>