Overview

Ibn al-'Arabi and the Sufis is a fascinating and groundbreaking analysis of the extent to which various major Sufi figures contributed to the mystical philosophy of Ibn al-'Arabi. While recent scholarship has tended to concentrate on his teachings and life, little attention has been paid to the influences on his thought. Each chapter is dedicated to one of Ibn al-'Arabi’s predecessors, from both the early and later periods, such as al-Bistami, al-Hallaj, and al-Jilani, showing how he is discussed in the works of the “Greatest Master” and Ibn al-'Arabi’s attitude towards him. This book brings into sharp relief the highly original nature of Ibn al-'Arabi’s mystical theory, unprecedented in Islamic mysticism, and the unique way in which he interwove the ideas of others into his own thought.

Reviews

“Ibn 'Arabi is such a majestic zenith of the Islamic mystical tradition that at times it's tempting to treat him like an isolated mountain. Ibn al-'Arabi and the Sufis by Abrahamov helps remind us that the tallest mountains stand connected to, even as rising above, wider mountain ranges. Abrahamov locates Ibn 'Arabi in dialogue with earlier Muslim sages whose works he draws from, even as he makes his own contribution. Highly recommended to all those who want to learn about the context from which Ibn 'Arabi emerges.” —Omid Safi, professor of Islamic Studies, University of North Carolina

Author Biography

Binyamin Abrahamov is professor emeritus of Islamic theology and mysticism and Qur'anic studies at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. He was the head of the Department of Arabic and then the dean of the Faculty of Humanities. He has published several books and articles on early Islamic theology, al-Ghazali, and Ibn al-'Arabi.