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Knowing God: Ibn Ê¿ArabÄ« and Ê¿Abd al-RazzÄq al-QÄshÄnÄ«âs Metaphysics of the Divine
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Can we know God or does he reside beyond our ken? In Ibn Ê¿ArabÄ« and Ê¿Abd al-RazzÄq al-QÄshÄnÄ«âs Metaphysics of the Divine, Ismail Lala conducts a forensic analysis of the nature of God and His interaction with creation. Looking mainly at the exegetical works of the influential mystic, MuḥyÄ« al-DÄ«n ibn Ê¿ArabÄ« (d. 638/1240), and one of his chief disseminators, Ê¿Abd al-RazzÄq al-QÄshÄnÄ« (d. 736/1335?), Lala employs the term huwiyya, literally âHe-ness,â as an aperture into the metaphysical worldview of both mystics. Does Al-QÄshÄnÄ« agree with Ibn Ê¿ArabÄ«âs conception of God? Does he agree with Ibn Ê¿ArabÄ« on how God relates to us and how we relate to Him? Or is this where Sufi master and his disciple part ways?
Ismail Lala, D.Phil (2017), University of Oxford, is a seminary-trained academic who focusses on the metaphysical thought of Ibn Ê¿ArabÄ« and Ê¿Abd al-RazzÄq al-QÄshÄnÄ«. He has published widely on this topic, as well as on SunnÄ« Qurʾanic commentaries, Prophetic traditions, Islamic medical ethics, and Islamic philosophy.
âA brilliant study of the nature of God in the thought of Ibn Ê¿ArabÄ« and his later disciple, Ê¿Abd al-RazzÄq al-QÄshÄnÄ«. Dr. Lala guides the reader through a thicket of abstruse texts of Sufi metaphysics on the term huwiyya to a clear explication of the views of each thinker on the nature of God and how we can know Him. Rigorous textual analysis at its best.â
- R. L. Nettler, Oriental Institute, University of Oxford
âThis volume, focusing on a term of decisive significance in Ibn Ê¿ArabÄ«âs thought, is a most welcome contribution to research in the history of speculative Sufism. The authorâs semantic analysis, based on a substantial series of the relevant texts, shows with commendable precision how Ibn Ê¿ArabÄ«âs mystical system has undergone modification by one of its foremost interpreters, Ê¿Abd al-RazzÄq al-QÄshÄnÄ«. The latterâs role as a systematiser and arch-defender of Ibn Ê¿ArabÄ«âs legacy in the altered conditions of his later milieu, comes into sharp relief. Lalaâs study significantly extends our understanding of speculative Sufism in its historical unfolding.â
- Toby Mayer, The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London
âBref, nous avons affaire ici à un travail de recherche et de réflexion méticuleux â si nous passons sur quelques rares coquilles, et sur le caractère incomplet de lâindex. Le choix de centrer lâétude sur un corpus restreint (Fuṣūṣ, TaʾwÄ«lÄt) permet dâaboutir à des conclusions claires. On appréciera en outre lâinsertion nette du propos dans lâhistoireâ: le terme huwiyya est replacé dans les contextes successifs de la pensée en islam (p. 57-63). Les impacts de lâÅuvre dâIbn Ê¿ArabÄ« comme dâal-QÄÅ¡ÄnÄ« sont replacés dans le paysage politique de leur époque. Cet ouvrage fournit donc un regard utile sur la pensée métaphysique du soufisme, notamment sur lâÅuvre encore peu connue dâal-QÄÅ¡ÄnÄ«.â
- Pierre Lory, Arabica 69 (2022).
- R. L. Nettler, Oriental Institute, University of Oxford
âThis volume, focusing on a term of decisive significance in Ibn Ê¿ArabÄ«âs thought, is a most welcome contribution to research in the history of speculative Sufism. The authorâs semantic analysis, based on a substantial series of the relevant texts, shows with commendable precision how Ibn Ê¿ArabÄ«âs mystical system has undergone modification by one of its foremost interpreters, Ê¿Abd al-RazzÄq al-QÄshÄnÄ«. The latterâs role as a systematiser and arch-defender of Ibn Ê¿ArabÄ«âs legacy in the altered conditions of his later milieu, comes into sharp relief. Lalaâs study significantly extends our understanding of speculative Sufism in its historical unfolding.â
- Toby Mayer, The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London
âBref, nous avons affaire ici à un travail de recherche et de réflexion méticuleux â si nous passons sur quelques rares coquilles, et sur le caractère incomplet de lâindex. Le choix de centrer lâétude sur un corpus restreint (Fuṣūṣ, TaʾwÄ«lÄt) permet dâaboutir à des conclusions claires. On appréciera en outre lâinsertion nette du propos dans lâhistoireâ: le terme huwiyya est replacé dans les contextes successifs de la pensée en islam (p. 57-63). Les impacts de lâÅuvre dâIbn Ê¿ArabÄ« comme dâal-QÄÅ¡ÄnÄ« sont replacés dans le paysage politique de leur époque. Cet ouvrage fournit donc un regard utile sur la pensée métaphysique du soufisme, notamment sur lâÅuvre encore peu connue dâal-QÄÅ¡ÄnÄ«.â
- Pierre Lory, Arabica 69 (2022).
Preface
Acknowledgements
Transliteration Guide
1 Introduction
â1The Meeting
â2The Master
â3The Disciple
â4The Word
â5The Presentation
â6The Qurʾan
â7The History
2 Ibn ʿArabī and Huwiyya
â1Ibn Ê¿ArabÄ«âs Definition
â2Huwiyya in Al-FutūḥÄt al-Makkiyya
â3Huwiyya in the Fuṣūṣ
â4The Chapter of YÅ«suf
â5Conclusion of Ibn Ê¿ArabÄ« and Huwiyya
3 Al-QÄshÄnÄ« and Huwiyya
â1Al-QÄshÄnÄ«âs Definition of Huwiyya
â2Huwiyya, Entity and the Perfect Man
â3Huwiyya in the TaʾwÄ«lÄt
â4Conclusion of Huwiyya in al-QÄshÄnÄ«âs Works
â5The Huwiyya of Ibn Ê¿ArabÄ« versus the Huwiyya of al-QÄshÄnÄ«
4 Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgements
Transliteration Guide
1 Introduction
â1The Meeting
â2The Master
â3The Disciple
â4The Word
â5The Presentation
â6The Qurʾan
â7The History
2 Ibn ʿArabī and Huwiyya
â1Ibn Ê¿ArabÄ«âs Definition
â2Huwiyya in Al-FutūḥÄt al-Makkiyya
â3Huwiyya in the Fuṣūṣ
â4The Chapter of YÅ«suf
â5Conclusion of Ibn Ê¿ArabÄ« and Huwiyya
3 Al-QÄshÄnÄ« and Huwiyya
â1Al-QÄshÄnÄ«âs Definition of Huwiyya
â2Huwiyya, Entity and the Perfect Man
â3Huwiyya in the TaʾwÄ«lÄt
â4Conclusion of Huwiyya in al-QÄshÄnÄ«âs Works
â5The Huwiyya of Ibn Ê¿ArabÄ« versus the Huwiyya of al-QÄshÄnÄ«
4 Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
All interested in Sufism generally, Ibn ʿArabī specifically, and the dissemination of his thought by early disciples, especially. Those concerned with mystical exegesis will also find the work useful.