Introduction to Ibn 'Arabi

This course will introduce the life and thought of the highly influential sage and philosopher Ibn ʿArabī. We will first turn our attention to a detailed examination of his metaphysics and theology. This will set the stage for a full-out engagement with his teachings on knowledge, love, hermeneutics, ethics, and human perfection.

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Target Audience and Prerequisites  

This course is designed for students, academics, and anyone interested in engaging seriously with the intellectual traditions of Islamic civilization. No prior academic background in the subject is required unless otherwise specified. Participants need only bring intellectual curiosity, openness to new ideas, and a willingness to engage thoughtfully with the course materials and discussions.  

Texts

Claude Addas,The Voyage of No Return, 2^nd ed. (ITS, 2020)

William Chittick,The Sufi Path of Knowledge (SUNY Press, 1989)

Mohammed Rustom, “Philosophical Sufism” (https://www.mohammedrustom.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Philosophical-Sufism-Routledge-Companion-to-Islamic-Philosophy-2016.pdf)

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