Ibn Al-'Arabi And Islamic Intellectual Culture: From Mysticism To Philosophy

Ibn al-'Arabī (d. 1240) was one of the towering figures of Islamic intellectual history, and among Sufis still bears the title of al-shaykh al-akbar, or "the greatest master." This book traces the history of the concept of "Oneness of Being" (Wahdat al-Wujūd) in the school of Ibn al-'Arabī to explore the relationship between mysticism and philosophy in Islamic intellectual life. It examines how the conceptual language used by early mystical writers became increasingly engaged with broader Islamic intellectual culture, ultimately becoming integrated into its philosophical and theological vocabulary. Focusing on four generations of thinkers—Sadr al-Dīn al-Qūnawī, Mu'ayyad al-Dīn al-Jandī, 'Abd al-Razzāq al-Kāshānī, and Dāwūd al-Qaysarī—the book analyzes how these philosopher-mystics refined and developed Ibn al-'Arabī's ideas. Through close text analysis, it reveals the development of an influential school of thought within Islamic history and its place in the broader intellectual culture. This exploration of Sufi thought is a valuable resource for students and scholars of Islamic philosophy and mysticism.