Ibn 'arabi: Heir to the Prophets

MUHYI AD-DIN IBN `ARABI was an outstanding Spanish-born mystic and one of the most prolific writers in Islamic history. He made major contributions to the fields of Qur¿an commentary, jurisprudence, theology, philosophy, cosmology and spiritual psychology, and he was also a great poet of love. Although he is known as the first spokesman for the `oneness of being,¿ his real focus was the diverse modalities of human perfection. He marks a transition in Sufism from practical instructions on healing the heart and aphorisms on the divine mysteries to an equal stress on the theoretical issues that had long been the topic of philosophy and theology. This book by a leading expert covers Ibn `Arabi¿s life and teachings. Accessible yet authoritative, it also includes a guide for further reading, and will prove an indispensable resource for readers of all backgrounds. WILLIAM C. CHITTICK is Professor of Religious Studies in the Department of Asian and Asian-American Studies, Stony Brook University. He is author and translator of twenty five books and well over one hundred articles, including Science of the Cosmos, Science of the Soul, also published by Oneworld.