ibn arabi i

8/10/2019 ibn arabi i

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A B s ia C mme a he Fusus al-hikam

Reid Ha zovic

IntroduCtIon

M h i i Ib A abis Fusus al-hikam is he w k f a M s im

S phi s phe , he s phe a high s phis ica e hie a ic,a a a i e f ha i ep aceab e M s im ki g m i s heE pe k w as A a sia, he ss f which is s i m e .n is his w k a i exha s ib e locus f i spi a i f

he ce a c ce s f S i e a w ks a he e i e es -e ic a i i f Is am, b i a s s mb izes he m s e ab -a e, a s i s passe , me aph sics f he imagi a i e ee e pe . I is base he g sis a i ec spi i a expe i-

e ce f mubashshira he imagi a isi , acc mpa ie b aice f m he w fmalakut , he w f he i i g c ea i e

imagi a i mundus imaginalis (alam al-amthal ). Ib A abihimse f, a -Sha kh a -Akba ( Doctor Maximus ), is exp ici i sa -i g ha he ecei e he s bs a ce f he b k f m he P phe

f Is am, wh m he saw i a isi f i ec spi i a wi ess-i g ( al-shuhud ) am g he messe ge s f he W f G idamasc s i he a e pa f he m h f M ha am ah 627,whe e he ha c me ge he as a e communia spiritualis . AsIb A abi himse f sa s, he w e w wha he P phe

f Is am esi e him ; he i esc ibe i mi e e ai ahe spi i a sapie ce ( adhwaq ) a es im ( shuhud ) he expe-ie ce i g his ex a i a spi i a a ie ce.

the fac ha he Fusus al-hikam has bee he s bjec f c m-

me a f m e ha eigh ce ies is s f cie e i e ce fi s sig i ca ce a a m s i exha s ib e c e . I w beha ame a h se wh ha e s gh i e p e i , a

ess if c is a he a g ages i which he b khas bee a s a e a i which e g h a pai s aki gc mme a ies a a a ses f he w k ha e bee w i e .


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88 Reid Ha zovic

this is es im he p f i a ex eme spi -i a c mp exi f he ex , b a s s gges s ha he Fususal-hikam s e came i bei g e he i e ce f ex a -

i a spi i a i spi a i a i mi a i , a gi g f milham (i spi a i ), kashf ( e e a i ), dhawq (i i i e c g i-

i , as e), fayd (eff si , ema a i f i i e igh ), tajalliyat(se f- isc s e, i i e he pha ies), a al-waridat (spi i ai spi a i ) ilqa (p jec i f i i e igh i mi a e hes hea )1 a mushahada (c emp a i e wi essi g h gh

he e e f he hea ). the e is a pe cep ib e eff he pa f

Wes e ie a a Is amic s ies, f c si g i pa ic a he c mme a ies a a a sis f S i e a w ks a heia h s, e s a i e ai , i a ma e m e app icab e

he Wes e mi se , he f ms f i spi a i ha e hec mp si i f he Fusus al-hikam . I is s a is ch s ies examp es c ea e ea i g ha he ki s f i spi-

a i efe e ab e b hei A abic e ms a e exp esse ihe Wes b me aph ica i es s ch as Gabriels Wing , sophia

aeterna , LAnge empourpr , Madonna intelligenza , a s . 2

EArly CoMMEntAtorS

W i i g i iffe e e as a f m a i s pa s f he w , hesch a s wh ha e w i e c mme a ies Ib A abis Fusus ha e s e c e hemse es he ex i is a if m he his ica a spi i a c ex wi hi which i camei bei g, b ha e bee f e mi i p aci g i i he e -e a his ica , i e p e a i e a spi i a c ex wi hi hehis f Is amic phi s ph . P i g he Fusus i c ex ,

he s pa a igm f his ki f app ach was p p se bSa i a -Q awi ( .673/1274), wh was a s he s e

1. Ilqa rabbani projection or cause of the Lords revelation into theheart of the su ; see, for example, Ibn Arabis Futuhat , Vol. III, p. 457 ofOsman Yahyas edition (Cairo, 1970).

2. Henry Corbin, LImagination creatrice dans le sou sme dIbn Arabi(Paris, 1958); Islam u Iranu, III (Sarajevo, 2000); Annemarie Schimmel,Gabriels Wing(Lahore, 2000).


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89 A Bosnian Commentator on the Fusus al-hikam

i e p e e f his w k b Ib A abi, i his fam s w k, K. al-Fukuk .3 Wi h a ex a i a e s a i g f pe ipa e icphi s ph he e ha a a i i a Is amic sch a ship

he he , Sa i s app ach he w k is a he m esig i ca a a h i a i e i he igh f his i imac wi hIb A abi, f he Pe sia a -Q awi was Ib A abiss eps , b a s his spi i a hei i he ea , i e a mea i g f

he w . Beca se f his i ima e c ec i , a -Q awi was bec me he spi i a g i e a i ec f ma s e s,

a he s wh j i e he pa h f S sm, wh came K a

hea him ec e.the s c mp ehe si e c mme a f Ib A abis Fusus al-hikam was c mpi e b M a i i a -Ja i ( .700/1300), 4 a p pi f Sa i Q awi a e f he sec ge e a i

f i e p e e s f his w k b Ib A abi. this was f we bhe c mme a w i e b his p pi Ab a -razzaq a -Kasha i

( .730/1330), 5 a he w - me c mme a b a -Kasha-is p pi daw a -Qa sa i ( .751/1350). 6 Sa i a -Q a-

wis s e is c ea ec g izab e i each f hese c mme a ies:i ee , i ha f daw a -Qa sa i he mas e s s eb a s he basic c cep i was b we f m his w ks.A s i his is f we -k w i e p e e s f Ib A abis Fusus ,

e sh e k he fam s I a ia phi s phe , Sa hie a ic Ha a Am i (b.720/1320 i Am ), wh w e aimp a c mme a he Fusus e i e Nass al-nusus (thetex f tex s). 7 Ha a Am is w k iffe s f m he s i hahe ea s wi h he Fusus i he igh f his g ea Tafsir , bea i gi mi a a imes he e a i ships be wee b h he Q aa he P phe f Is am he e ha , a be wee he

3. Sadruddin al-Qunawi, Kitab al-fukuk , ms no. 4858, Yusuf Agha Library,Konya.

4. Muayyid al-Din Jandi, Nafhat al-ruh wa tuhfat al-futuh, ed. MayilHarawi (Tehran, 1983).

5. Abd al-Razzaq al-Kashani, Sharh fusus al-hikam(Cairo, 1966).6. Sharaf al-Din Dawud al-Qaysari, Sharh fusus al-hikam(Tehran, 1981

82).7. Haydar Amuli, Nass al-nusus(Tehran/Paris, 1988).


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90 Reid Ha zovic

P phe f Is am a Ib A abi he he . F him, i wha e bee a m s i c cei ab e c mpi e a c mp ehe si ec mme a he Fusus wi h c s a awi g a a -

gies a ass cia i g his he me e ic ac wi h he he me e icapp ach his g ea c mme a he Q a . o he c m-me a ies he Fusus ha a s ese e me i a his p ia e h se f a -nab si8 a a -Jami. 9

ModErn CoMMEntAtorS

the e sig i ca ce a c mp exi f he Fusus al-hikam wi bec me appa e as Wes e sch a s bec me m e fami -ia wi h his opus as pa f he M s im w i e he i age. thew ks a i eas f Ib A abi a Ja a i r mi wi b

cc p a specia p ace i hei s ies, f hei ames s mb -ize he spi i a pi ac e f S i e a e as a wh e a , af eeigh ce ies, hei w ks a e w, pa a xica , he s bjec

f c si e ab m e i e es i he Wes ha he e e we e i he M s im w . M e e , hei spi i a impac he e iss g ea ha hese w gia s f S i e a e a e i g m e i

he Wes f he e s a i g f Is am ha he e i e M s imw , e e a i s bes , ca ffe wa a s.

the w k b he s a i g F e ch ie a is MicheCh kiewicz, e i e The Seal of the Saints ,10 a esses i e ai

he i ea f walaya. this is a e i g pic wi hi S f-ism, a M s im sch a ship i ge e a , b i is a s a fa i e

f Ib A abi, a f ms he c e f his w ks, i pa ic a he Fusus . Miche Ch kiewicz i ce his g ea ame

f M s im spi i a i he c a p b ic i F a ce b a s ,a g wi h his p f i sigh s i he i ea f walaya , p -

i e a s s ema ic e iew f he ech ica e ms s c cia

8. Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulusi, Sharh jawahir al-nusus (Cairo, ah 130323).

9. Abd al-Rahman Jami, Naqd al-nusus sharh naqsh al-fusus , ed. W.C. Chittick (Tehran, 1977).

10. Michel Chodkiewicz, Le sceau des saints(Paris, 1958); English trans.by L. Sherrard, The Seal of the Saints (Cambridge, 1993).


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he s f he his f S i e a e. I is eq a imp aa his p i efe he a h gica w k Ib A abi b

he g ea He C bi . C bi was a e ee f he p es f m

f spi i a Is am, which he ha isc e e h gh he a i sw ks f Ib A abi, Ja a i r mi, Ib Si a (especia hisi ea f Eas e phi s ph ), a h se f S h awa i, M aSa a Shi azi a ma he s. C bi s Creative Imagination inthe Su sm of Ibn Arabi 11 wi h i s ca ef a s s ema ic e ab a-

i f he spi i a c ex i which he e a i ship be weeIb A abis hi ki g a spi i a h gh f I a e e pe , is

esse ia ea i g f a se i s s e f he his f Si e a e, wi h i s ca ef a s s ema ic e ab a i f he spi -i a c ex i which he e a i ship e e pe be wee IbA abis hi ki g a he spi i a h gh f I a . Af e bei ge g fe i he q icksa s f he M s im phi s ph ha f -

we he ea h f Ib r sh , i was i I a ha he p esspi i a g sis f Is am s es face , g i g be e e -

pe f he b he ma sch s a phi s phica s a s fh gh ha w b i g M s im phi s phizi g i s peak ihe se e ee h a eigh ee h ce ies.

d i g his ime a he r a Phi s phica Aca em i teh ai 1972/1973, ge he wi h He C bi a he he P esi-

e f he Aca em , Se e H ssei nas , P fess t shihikIz s ec e he Fusus . Am g h se wh m he, C bia nas e he Fusus was a g c a s e fphi s ph , Wi iam Chi ick. I a i i , Sa i Ja a i a -Ash i a i, a p mi e p fess f m he u i e si f Mash-ha , a s p i e m ch se ess assis a ce a hese ec es;Ash i a i ha j s c mp e e a c i ica e i i f he w - -

me c mme a he Fusus b daw a -Qa sa i, i g m e ha a h sa pages. 12 this c i ica e i i f he

11. H. Corbin, LImagination creatrice dans le sou sme dIbn Arabi ;English trans. by R. Manheim, Creative Imagination in the Su sm of IbnArabi (Princeton, 1969).

12. Muhammad Dawud al-Qaysari al-Rumi [also known as Sharaf al-Dinal-Qaysari, see n.6], Sharh fusus al-hikam, critical edition, introduction andnotes by Sayyid Jalaluddin al-Ashtiyani (Tehran, ah 1375).


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92 Reid Ha zovic

c mme a was p ece e j s a few ea s ea ie , i 1967, bhe p b ica i f a c mp e e c i ica e i i f he Fusus i se f,

e i e b he emi e Eg p ia P fess Ab a -A a Af .

P i his cameSu sm and Taoism13

b P fess t shihikIz s , wh was p bab he g ea es ame i Japa ese ie as ies. A h gh he ea s wi h Ib A abis Fusus i i s e i e ,his pa ic a i e es a he s bjec he a esses i g ea -es e ai is he i g is ic fea es a a ces i which IbA abi exp esse his f ame a i eas. His w k is bei g ca -

ie f wa , a expa e p c e he aspec s f Ib

A abis h gh , b P fess yas shi t aga, a f me s ef Iz s s, wh eaches Is amic phi s ph a K u i e -si . P fess t aga has spe he pas w h ee aca emic

ea s p epa i g a c i ica e i i f a ma sc ip b Ab aha -B s awi, a mi -se e ee h-ce sch a wh w e whais pe haps he es a m s c mp ehe si e c mme a Ib A abis Fusus al-hikam a wh m we sha e i ec se. o he he si e f he A a ic ocea is a he s -

e f P fess Iz s s, Sachik M a a wh , ge he wi hhe h sba Wi iam Chi ick (b h f wh m each a he S a eu i e si f new y k), has w i e a ex e si e exp s f hec mp exi a sig i ca ce f Ib A abis w k, wi h pa ic a

efe e ce he Fusus al-hikam .14 the a s a i f he Fusus al-hikam i E g ish b P -

fess ra ph A s i e i e The Bezels of Wisdom ,15 is pe hapse f he es a s a i s i a E pea a g age, as is

he a s a i i F e ch b Cha es-A Gi is e i e Le Livre des Chatons des Sagesses. 16 Bef e his became a ai ab e, he

13. Toshihiko Izutsu, Su sm and Taoism A Comparative Study of the KeyPhilosophical Concepts in Taoism and Su sm (Tokyo, 196667).

14. Sachiko Murata and William C. Chittick, The Vision of Islam (St Paul,

MN, 1994); however, MuratasThe Tao of Islam

(Albany, NY, 1992) andChitticks The Su Path of Knowledge (Albany, NY, 1989) are the two bookswhich directly refer to Ibn Arabis Fusus al-hikam.

15. Ibn al-Arabi, The Bezels of Wisdom, translated with an introductionand notes by R.W.J. Austin (New York, 1980).

16. Ibn Arabi, Le Livre des chatons des sagesses , III, translated, withnotes and commentary, by Charles-Andr Gilis (Beirut, 1997).


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94 Reid Ha zovic

the t kish e si has bee a s a e , wi h s me ab i ge-me s, i E g ish b B e ra f, i ass cia i wi h r. B assa H. t emache, 21 b wi h he igi a w g asc ibe

Ismai Haqqi a -B se i, he fam s a h f he tafsir Ruh al- Bayan a e e f we f M h i i Ib A abi, i s ea f

i s e a h , Ab ah a -B s awi.Sha kh Ab ah a -B s awi was b i 992/1584 i B s ia,

whe e he ecei e his p ima a sec a e ca i bef ec mp e i g his s ies i Is a b . He he spe se e a ea si B sa, acq i i g f he k w e ge f S i e a e e

he emi e a h i f he a Sha kh Hasa Kaba z, f mwh m he ecei e a ijazat -nama ( ip ma) i irshad (spi i ag i a ce b a sha kh) . I 1636 he se ff his a e s aEg p , S ia a A abia, e i g p i Mecca whe e he pe f me

he pi g image. He k a a age f his a e s w i e hee a ge A abic e si f his c mme a he Fusus , p b-ab f his p pi s i S ia, Eg p a Me i a, wh a e ewi h him f a ime. la e , his e f m he Hijaz, Ab -

ah a -B s awi spe s me ime i damasc s ea he ma s -e m f Ib A abi, whe e he si g e-mi e e ica e himse f

s i g his w ks. o e i g Is a b he eci e isi K a wi h he i e i f pe f mi g a ziyara (pi g im-

age) he mbs f Ja a i r mi a Sa i Q awi.He was spe he es f his ife he e, a i e c se

his was whe e he fe i a ie . I acc a ce wi h his aswishes, he was b ie a gsi e he mb f Sha kh Sa iQ awi. His mbs e bea s he epi aph:

this is he mb f a ec se f A ah His Ea h.His ame is Ab ah, Se a f A ah.

A h gh he was k w i A a ia b he ick ame Ab i,i B s ia a -B s awi was ca e al -Ghaibi , his S ick ame,

which p bab e his a e c f si wi h a he e ishwh ha he same S ick ame, a wh was b ie i S a a

21. Ismail Haqqi Bursevis translation of and commentary on Fusus al-hikam by Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi , ed. Bulent Rauf et al ., 4 vols., Muhyiddin IbnArabi Society (Oxford/Istanbul, 198691).


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G a ika. F wi g ca a i i , ha i g a ea e e e iB s ia salnami (a a s) his g a e was w g be ie e be

ha f a -B s awi. Acc i g a e b P fess dema

C

ehajic, he same mis ake is be f i a isse a i bSaf e -beg Baagi c, wh eq a e him wi h a ce ai e ishf m B s ia bbe Gaibi. 22

the membe f his imme ia e fami wh m efe -e ce is ma e is his s Hasa effe i ( .1069/1659), a e e -

i e ma wh was a qa i a eache i Je sa em. the meag ebi g aphica e ai s c ce i g Ab ah a -B s awi a e c m-

pe sa e f b he c si e ab e q a i f his w i i gs ef p s e i . of pa ic a e f p p ses is his ex e -si e c mme a Ib A abis Fusus al-hikam , he f i e

f which is Sharh fusus al-hikam: tajalliyyat arais al-nusus manassat hikam al-fusus ,23 lif i g he vei f m he B i es f

he di i e re e a i he S b ime th es f Wis m. thet kish e si f his ma sc ip has bee p b ishe wice:

s i B ak i Eg p i 1252/1836, a he i Is a b i1290/1873. the A abic e si has e be p b ishe . the

s c i ica e i i f he A abic ma sc ip f his w k fB s awis is bei g p epa e b P fess yas shi t aga, c -

e he chai f Is amic phi s ph a K u i e si i Japa . Ab ah a -B s awi e e he sec me f hisc mme a wi h a 107-hemis ich qasida , a s mb f p aisef he Fusus al-hikam a i s a h , M h i i Ib A abi.

C mme i g a -B s awis c mme a , he p ma hHaji Ha ifa sa s ha i is mi g e wi h he ex a is a eg c mme a , pe haps he bes f a . 24 th gh sch a ss ch as B sa i Mehme tahi 25 c aim ha a -B s awi w e

22. Demal C

ehajic, ejh Abdulah Bonjak Abdi bin Muhamed al-Bosnevi ,FIN (Proceedings of the Faculty of Islamic Studies), 1/1982 (Sarajevo,1982), pp. 7581.

23. Abdullah effendi al-Bosnawi, Sharh fusus al-hikam: tajalliyyat ara isal-nusus manassat hikam al-fusus , ms no. 1032, V. arullah ef., Milletgenel Ktphanesi, Istanbul.

24. Haji Halifa, Kashf al-zunnun, II, p. 126325. B.M. Tahir, Osmanli Muelli eri (1299/1925), I (Istanbul, 1915),


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s me six w ks, i sh be sai ha s fa m e ha a h -e ea ises ha e bee a ib e him, s me g a s me

sh , i t kish, A abic a Pe sia .

Pa ic a me i sh be ma e he e f a -B s awisex e si e i c i his c mme a he Fusus , whichhe i i e i sec i s we e p i cip es, each e e i-ca e e m e ma e s f imp a ce i he he f S

i e a e. the ac a i ci e ha b gh ab he w i i gf his sepa a e i c sec i was a eba e c c e

i he se e ee h ce c ce i g he h x f Ib

A abis p ecep s. A -B s awi efe e he pe s a w ksf Ib A abi, a c e e wi h exha s i e a s s ema ica g me s h se wh c i icize him, ep achi g hem wi ha ma e f hi gs. F em s i his smea campaig we e

he fuqaha expe s i j isp e ce, wh e ce he e i espi i a ea i f re e a i a he t a i i s f he P phef m a i e sa a a -e c mpassi g e e me e es a

ega cas is . As a es , he ce we i g c p s fM s im h gh , which f ce ies se he s a a f g -ba c e a ci i iza i , has bee b gh w whaa e ega e a as a aemic, m a e p i ica iews base

ega ecisi s fa was, a f which a e high q es i -ab e f m a sch a p i f iew, f e f g e b he epe p e wh iss e hem a i c easi g is ega e b h sef wh m he we e i e e .

Agai s his backg f fe e efe ce f Ib A abi, as s ema ic exp a a i a c a i ca i f his eachi gs, a -B s awi, i he i c i his c mme a he Fusus ,bega b a essi g he s gges i ha Ib A abi pe s i e

he sea f he speci c M hamma ia walayat .26 this is a p if S he ha is isc sse i he c ex f he spi i a

a h i fwalayat , b h ge e a a pa ic a , as e f he

p. 60; quoted in D. C

ehajic, O jednom lozofskom traktatu ejha Abdulaha ,POF (Contributions to Oriental Philology, Oriental Institute, Sarajevo),3233/198283 (Sarajevo, 1983), p. 66.

26. Abdullah al-Bosnawi, Sharh fusus , fol. 002b009b.


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ea i g iss es ha has bee a c s a p e cc pa i f Sexegesis a he me e ics. the sch a s isag ee wi hIb A abi his p i we e he Shii e he e icia s f S sm,

irfan , gi e ha he ep ache Ib A abi wi h a ga i ghe p si i f he sea f he speci c M hamma ia walaya f

himse f, a he ha he twe f h Imam Mah i, wh mhe a ib e be gs b he a e f hi gs. nei he Ib A abi

a -B s awi e he twe f h Imam: i ee , he exp icip e ic a exp ai he sig s f his sec c mi g, a he

e ship ha is his a is e be ea ize .

Aspects of al-Bosnawis Metaphysical Commentaryin his Introduction to the Fusus

Ab ah a -B s awi he emba ks a c si e a i fhe ex eme c mp ex a cha e gi g iss e ha migh beesc ibe as he me aph sics f he di i e Esse ce a Bei g. 27

like ma f his p e ecess s, he begi s, i i e wi h Ib A abisme aph sics f Esse ce a Bei g, b se i g he c asbe wee(1) he alam al-ghayb al-mutlaq , he i e se f abs e M s-

e , which e es he esce i g, wi g e ica fhe se f- isc si g di i e Bei g a is s i he u -Bei g

(p -Bei g, p imi i e-Bei g), e e h gh f ma Sw i e s i s mb izes he e s mmi p i f epa e

f his e ica ; a(2) he alam al-shahada , he i e se f isib e f ms a

se sa e hi gs, he w f ha which ca be wi essei he he e a w.

Be wee hese w i e ses is he sca e f i i e eg ees fhe se f- isc si g di i e Bei g a i s p ese ce ( al-hadra ), a

Bei g ha is e, ha G p ssesses i igi , abs e

a wi h begi i g ( al-wujud al-mutlaq ), f i e s i se f ,bes ws a emp a i e e s he exis e ces a c ea es,

he eb bea i g he a ib e f e a i e, c i ge bei g (al-

27. Ibid., fol. 009b011a.


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98 Reid Ha zovic

wujud al-ida ). A -B s awi e ec s he w f abs e M s-e (alam al-ghayb ) f m w pe spec i es. o e is exp esse bhe i e se f Deus Absconditus , he i a gib e, i effab e me a-

c smic a p e-exis e ab ss ab which h ma a g age casa hi g, f a g age is he p ess me ia e exp ess hawhich is abs e, impe s a , s p a pe s a , i a gib e, i ex-p essib e a i effab e. I is his ha a -B s awi ca s he eai isib e w (alam al-ghayb al-haqiqi ). the he pe spec i eis he i e se f he e a i e i isib e (alam al-ghayb al-ida )

he i e se f he imagi a Bei g ( al-alam al-dhihni ) which

is he ab e f hi e ea i ies ( al-ayan al-thabita ),28

f f eisib e w s. these hi e c cea e ea i ies we i hee e a di i e K w e ge he P ese ce f he i i e k w-

e ge (hadrat al-ilm al-ilahi ),29 i he was e a f n -bei gha is me e hi g, me e -exis e ce, b a s m

f he e e a di i e K w e ge ha has e s bjec ehese e eme s f he di i e I e ec he i i e c ea i e

c mma ( Kun! Be!). this is sa , he w s a hei e ses a he we e e s f he se f- p i g Bei g

c me i bei g h gh he p i cip e f creatio ex nihilo , bh gh ha f i mi a i ema a i (emanatio , al -fayd )f he exis e ce-bes wi g f ce f m he ce e f he di i e

Ipsei . th s, he p e igh f he di i e Bei g, as nur , asdiya , passes h gh he mundus imaginalis ( alam al-amthal alam al-rumuz ), he i e se f p pes hi e ea i ies, s

ha he sha ws f hei s b e f ms (suwar latifa ) imagi-a esse s (qawabil al-khayaliyya ) p i he w f is-

ib e f ms a a e c e se i he spa ia a emp a wf a k, c ma e . this p i g is k w as tajalliyyat

a zuhurat , which a e e he ha a c smic eff ge cee he a spices f he ames f he visib e ( al-zahir ), f he

spi i a mea i gs f he di i e names a A ib es i he

ci f hei isib e ma ifes a i (al-mazahir ), a s k w asisib e space he exis e ia hea e (al-majla ) i which he

exis e ce-bes wi g h hm f he esce i g, ema a i g

28. Ibid., fol. 011.29. Ibid., fol. 011b012a.


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Bei g f he di i e sca e hie a chies f he i e ses ma i-fes s i se f.

the c cea e hi e ea i ies a e he i i i a e e -

mi e esse ces f p e ia exis e ces e b gh i heme c f he ea , e Bei g, b a he ha exis in potentia ,i he was e a f n -bei g he e e a di i e K w e ge

ha has e p ace in actus he c ea i e c mma Kun! Be!, Fiat lux ! F his eas a a e a i e, speci c ame f he

i e se f e a i e i isib e w s is p p se i a -B s a-wis S he alam al-ghayb al-imkani , he p e ia

i isib e i e se f m which a f e isib e exis e ces ahi gs eme ge i iew. Whe eas e c sa f he abs -e i isib e w a he i isib e w f ea i ies ha

he a e k w G , he e a i e p e ia i is-ib e w c be sai exis , isce ib e i i s i e s c-

e a i s exis e ce-bes wi g eg ee. A -B s awi ca ies a ce ai g a a i c ce i g he i i e mbe f di i eP ese ces ( al-hadarat al-ilahiyya ); he s f hese he efe s ashadrat al-ama he P ese ce f he c m s, he p e-exis e

eb si , he p e-c smic b i ess e he ea whi e C(materia prima , he e e c ea i e s al-haba ). the i ea-

i a ea i f exis e ces a phe me a f m he we e -e s f Bei g a e he i i i a iffe e ia e e he igh

f he di i e names a A ib es, a a e isib e a ec g-izab e i hei i ea i p e ia i f he i e se f imagi-a bei g f m he pe spec i e f he Abs e M s e , b a e

wh c cea e , i isib e a i isce ib e he bse ef m he we e e s f bei g, especia f he e e f hec smic w . the e m ama is i ee a a i i a e, bef i a hadith f he P phe (a.s.), a e es he exis e -

ia e e f he Pe fec Ma (al-insan al-kamil ) t a sce eMa ( al-insan al-mutlaq ), he e e f u ici (ahadiyya ) f

he di i e Esse ce, whe e he B ea h f he Me cif ( nafas al-rahman ) we s, he abs e imagi a i , he q i i f hebarzakh , he b a be wee he w s, he rea i f ea i-

ies (haqiqat al-haqaiq ), a s .Ab ah a -B s awi g es isc ss he Fi s de e mi a-

i (al-ta ayyun al-awwal ), he isib e aspec f he p e-exis e ce


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100 Reid Ha zovic

n - e e mi a i ( la-ta ayyun ) p e-c smic b i ess, hei is i g ishab e e he ea whi e c (ama ). this is, ifac , he A -e c mpassi g Exis e ce ( al-kawn al-jami ) he

A amic f m f he M hamma ia ea i ( al-haqiqa al-muham-madiyya ), which is a s m f he Pe fec Ma i wh m af ms a e e s f he ma ifes i g Bei g Bei g i e e a-

i we b i e f he ma ifes a i f he di i e i a i smea i gs. the Fi s de e mi a i , as A -e c mpassi g Exis -e ce, c mp ises a he i e ses, a he di i e P ese ces aa he ea i ies f -c i ge (al-haqqiyya ) a c i ge

(al-khalqiyya ) Bei g. I his A -e c mpassi g Exis e ce, ,he pe spec i es f he mac - a he mic c sm s pe mea ee a he . this is sa ha he Fi s de e mi a i A -

e c mpassi g Exis e ce, as he s p eme di i e c ea i , heb ishe mi f he i e se, he spi i f pa c smic f ms,is he c e ce f he tw ocea s ( majma al-bahrayn ) hee e a a he a sie , he spi i a a he ma e ia , he is-ib e a he i isib e wi h be wee hem he is hm s i-

e se f he I -be wee W (alam barzakhi ) ha b h i esa sepa a es he ocea s, i ki g he tw Ha s f G he

e ha gi es a he e ha akes awa , he Ha f Me ca he Ha f W a h s es if i g ha he Ha ha gi esa wa s p ece es he Ha ha akes, a he Ha f Me cp ece es he Ha f W a h. this b a has i s wescha gica mea i g b a s , i ee p ima i , a p fexis e ia mea i g, a mea i g f a ime. the i e se f hebarzakh is es im f he f i g f he peac cks

ai , he a i i a S s mb f he ec i e f c smic ime,b a s he s mb f pe pe a c smic eff ge ces, f he i ex-ha s ib e i e f he he pha ies a epipha ies f he di i enames a A ib es. Wha is m e, i is a s he s p emedi i e wi ess he fac ha he es c i f he ph sica ,

ma e ia , eg a ab e f ms f he mac - a mic c sm s es e ai he eg a a i f he e e f ms f he w ,

which a e p ese e a e he l f he w s j s ashe g i s c s f he peac cks ai emai i ac , pe fec

p ese e , e e whe he ai is igh f e , as a e he c -cea e ea i ies f a bei gs wi hi he paq e a k ess a


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impe e ab e si e ce f he e e a di i e K w e ge bewhich hi g is mi e , hi g f g e . J s as he Fi sde e mi a i A -e c mpassi g Exis e ce is he q i es-

se ce f a he ea i ies f Bei g, whe he ep si g i S p abe-i g ( al-wujud al-mutlaq ) i i s amic exis e ce-bes wi gm i , s he i e se f he barzakh , he sepa a i g a i-f i g b a -b i ge wi hi ha A -e c mpassi g Exis e ce,as a s m f he Pe fec Ma ( al-insan al-kamil ),30 is he s m

f a f ms f he i me ab e di i e P ese ces ha imagehe e i e sca e f Bei g a he esce i g, p i g e i-

ca f he pa c smic ma ifes a i s f he di i e names aA ib es.the di i e P ese ces ( al-hadarat al-ilahiyya ) cc p a ce a

p si i i S c sm g , a a -B s awi he ef e acc simme se imp a ce hem i his c mme a he Fusus .I his iew, he a e e he ha he c smic exis e iaab e f he di i e a each e e f he esce i g, p -i g Bei g ha f ms he wa es f he e ess imma emea i gs f he di i e names a A ib es, which

he di i e Ipsei f m hei i a gib e Esse ce i exha s -ib e Hi e t eas e b i e f he h ee di i e names Allah ,

Rabb a al-Rahman spa i g he eg ees f m he w f heA -e c mpassi g Exis e ce ( al-kawn al-jami ) he exis e ia

e e f he mi e a as he wes exis e ia e e wi hi hePe fec Ma .31 A -B s awi exp s he q es i f he c ea-

i e c mma a i s ac a iza i a he m e s s ema icai his ea ise e i e the B k f he u ei i g c ce i g

he C ea i e C mma i he I e p e a i f he las ve se fhe Q a ic S a a -Hash . 32

A he di i e P ese ces, which a e i i e i mbe as a e he di i e names as he ab e f he di i e Ipsei

i ma ifes a i a e c ai e i he A amic f ms f he

30. Ibid., fol. 012a013a.31. Ibid., fol. 011b012a; cf. Ibn Arabi, al-Futuhat al-makkiyya , II.176,

173 (Cairo, 1911); Fusus al-hikam, I.199 (Cairo, 1946).32. Abdullah al-Bosnawi, Kitab Al-Kashf an al-Amr tafsir akhar sura

al-hashr .


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102 Reid Ha zovic

A -e c mpassi g Exis e ce. this Exis e ce is e he hahe M hamma ia ea i , he M hamma ia igh , he s b-ime pe , he Pe fec Ma i sh , he Fi s C ea i Fi s

de e mi a i i which is he p e i e a he i exha s ib ep e ge f di i e l e; f he e b ea h f he Hi e t eas-

e (al-kanz al-makh yy ) ha es es isc se i se f b i ef se ess, pee ess l e f he M hamma ia ea i f he

i e se, be k w , e e b i i g pa aces f bei g ( hayakilal-wujud ) ha a e me e ke s a meme es f he exis e ce-bes wi g l e f he Ahad wi h which He emb aces Ahmad .33

Acc i g a -B s awi, Ahma is he m s i e saesse i which we s he p e i e f he di i e Bei g: he isa s he abs e, jea s g a e b k f he i e se (libermundi ) i sc ibe b he pe f he di i e Spi i , a he b k

f he i i e logus ( liber revelatus ) e ea e i sac e a g ages,h we e ma f hem ma ha e we h gh sac e his-

. He is he ke a he m s e ies ha ie he pages f heM he f he B k (umm al-kitab ), i sc ibe i cha ac e s ( kitabmarqum ), he sac -his ica a m a e his f which isp ese e a a es e b he Q a , he B k f a hedi i e huruf , he huruf f he di i e Esse ce a f he di i eBei g, he b k f a exis e ce-bes wi g e e be a i s apea s f h e p ce b he bea i g a cha f Gab ie swi g as he h e s ab e he i e m s isp si i f G sch se messe ge s. F he ke a he i e ses is he Pe fecMa , wh is e he ha he Be e f G ( habibullah ),wh sai g ag ha he is he p e i e f a he w s fG ( jawami al-kalim ). the e e s a w s ha a -B s awic assi es as huruf wa kalimat al-ilahiyya (di i e w s a e -

e s) a huruf wa kalimat al-wujudiyya ( he e e s a w s fBei g) 34 a e i sc ibe i he b k f he w s a he b k

f e e a i , b ks i e i his bei g b he P phe f Is am

as he s mb f he M he f he B k, he P i cipia B k,ike w cea s he cea f di i e Esse ce a he ceaf di i e Bei g. the s g p f e e s a w s s mb ize

33. Abdullah al-Bosnawi, Sharh fusus, fol. 014b.34. Ibid., fol. 012b.


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he spi i a ea i f he di i e names a A ib es, af a ha ema a e f m hem b i e f he i cessa

di i e c ea i e c mma f ge i g he hi e ea i ies

ha , as i i e p e ia i ies, s i we i he si e ce f hedi i e K w e ge a h se ha a e a ea eme gi g i heexis e ce-bes wi g igh f Bei g. the sec g p s mb -izes a he ecipie s wi hi a he di i e P ese ces, a heexis e ces ha ma ifes hemse es as i e se, ma -c e ,m if m gems b w e a g b he g -bea i g wa es f he

i e f he di i e Tajalliyyat , wh se casca es p w f m

i e se i e se, f m he i e se f he di i e Ipsei(alam al-dhat ) ha f isib e f ms (alam al-shahada ). J sas he huruf a kalima s he pages f he sac e ex a e b

he f am c e i g he ep hs f he e e a di i e K w e ges mme p he pages f he sac e ex , s he e i e fc ea es a exis e ces he pages f a e a e b he f h

isi g f m he i i e ep hs f he di i e Bei g ha is ihe esse ce ( lubb ) a s bs a ce ( jawahir ) f e e he mi esf c ea e hi gs. Whe e he f am a he sea sim a e s

ch a pa is he i isib e, a e b a (barzakhiyya )i which he pp si g c i g e ges f he visib e a he I is-ib e a e b e , ike ha which b h sepa a es a i es igha sha e, he Pe fec Ma a G . I is his e b a

ha is he mi f b h ea i ies, a his se f-mi i gp e e s hem f m b i g a me gi g i e a he .

the e i e gam f Bei g is es ab ishe b he esce i g,p i g di i e Bei g, whi e he A amic f m f A -e c m-

passi g Exis e ce is e ea e a he ce each f agme f hei e se es ab ishi g i b i e f he di i e P ese ces ( al-

hadarat al-ilahiyya ) he P ese ce f he names a A ib es,as a es f which he di i e Bei g a a imes pa es he waback f he A -e c mpassi g Exis e ce a , h gh i , f

e e he mi es exis e ce i he i e se, e h me.this sca e f Bei g is e ec e a i s m s c mp e e i he Pe -fec Ma as he s m f a spi i a ea i ies, f he e e s ap ese ces f he di i e Bei g, f he is he m s pe fec m ea image f he asce i g sapie ia asce he l . Ihim we a spi i a s a es a spi i a s a i s a g which


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104 Reid Ha zovic

e e homo viator salik m s make his wa i his pe e iasapie ia a exis e ia miraj . the a e i i e i mbe ,j s as a e he di i e names a A ib es i wh se igh e e

spi i a j e (via purgativa, sayr al-suluk ) is ea ize . the pa -ag f spi i a ea iza i ha j e is he e wh isA -e c mpassi g Exis e ce a he Pe fec Ma he P phe

f Is am, wh m he Q a esc ibes as f he es a a is-p si i (al-khuluq al-azim ), a f wh m he p phe ic a i-

i e a es ha he is he p e ge f di i e l e a he easf he di i e c ea i e c mma f a he i e ses. He ffe e

s s ch a pa ag pa a igm f spi i a j e h ghhis Miraj . the spi i a i s i i h gh which wmiraj is ea ize is he p esc ibe e ai p a e s, he salah ,pe f me a he m s se si i e a sig i ca p i s f he

a a igh , a he p a e f he hea ( dhikrullah ) ha wepe f m a i , wi h i g hea s, f wi g he h hm

f w i e ee s a spi i a ea i ess. A -B s awiesc ibes i i i a spi i a j e he di i e P ese ceh gh he a i i f he P phe f Is am c ce i g he

se e spi i a mea i gs f he re e a i he se e he me-e ic pe spec i es (unzila al-quran ala sab a ahruf ) wi h which

e ma app ach he Q a i pa i wh e. this is hes mb f he se e ahruf , as he P phe f Is am exp esse i ,which a e e he ha he se e ep hs he se e spi -i a h iz s wi hi which e is ab e e e p a e q i ei a hermeneutica spiritualis . this is i se f he hie his f

he i i i a s pe i g p he ligh f he Eas ( mashriqal-nur ) a a ima i g wi hi i se f he p im ia aw ( crepus-culum matutinum ) f he m s spi i a mea i gs f he W fG i i s Q a ic i s furqan -ic aspec . I he Q a ic me a-ph khal al-na layn , he em a f he sa a s, a -B s awi ec g ize he e initiatory f m b i e f which

he i i i a spi i a q es f he i e mea i g f he Wf G is ea ize . this me aph is ass cia e wi h he e e s

i he sac e a e f t a whe M ses s bef e he b -i g B sh. this sac his ica e e a e i spi e Ib Qasi aIb A abi each w i e hei w S i i ia ea ises (khal al-na layn ), aki g his e Q a ic me aph as hei i e. the


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106 Reid Ha zovic

a sc sci s ess ( sirr ), which is ge c ce e wi ha ki f e a i ship be wee he wa a he i wa ,

he isib e a he i isib e. this is s a a he ce e f he

spi i a bei g a which a he a ii f m e e p i hepe ime e f ph sica a spi i a bei g c e ge; hei e ce f hese is he e a ize a hei c a ic i sa e b gh i ha m a a sce e .

the f h spi i a a e c sis s f a image f he hea ( qalb ),he b ack se a he ce e f m ic e , ma - we e

mic c smic se ga e , as Shabis a i ca s i , whe e he e i e

spec m f ph sica a spi i a bei g c mes es . I ishe image f he ce es ia kaba (bayt ma mur ) wi hi s, iwhich ws he i e f he i i e tajalliyyat , si g i se f i

he mi s cea f hea , as he i e f he hea eh s s me ges i he ce es ia kaba (al-bayt al-ma mur ), e e

e . I is hena-koja-abad wi hi s, he pa a isa s i c -cea e eep wi hi s, be he each f ph sica se ses.He e a ea s a a gh e , j a s w, a

he i e s a seas f ph sica a spi i a ge g aph sehemse es, f he a e f he hea wi hi s is he sea f a

seas, i he si e ce f which ph sica se ses fe me ahe isq ie f spi i a ga s s c mf a ease.

the six h spi i a a e wi hi s is s mb ize b he me aimage f he di i e P ese ce ( al-sura al-ilahiyya ) pe s i e i

he Fi s de e mi a i , A -e c mpassi g Exis e ce Pe fecMa wi hi s ha is he ace i he sa was e a f hea ef b he e f he M hamma ia spi i a ea -i wi g i e e exis e ce, i a ia i g i f m wi hi ama ki g i wi h i s sea . the ace i ea es p i s he wa i

w spi i a q es f he fa si e f M Qaf , a is ba f esha wi g ha bi ge f ha a e which is he ePe fec Ma , he i e f he i i e c ea i e C mma a he

a a sea he eas ies f a he i e ses, he spi i aa ma ha pe f mes he mic c smic ga e f each i i i -

a M s im, s bmissi e s .las , he se e h spi i a a e wi hi s is whe e Hea e

a Ea h mee a ch agai , f mi g he a ch f esce -i g, p i g bei g, a asce i g, sapie ia bei g, he


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di i e n - e e mi a i a he Fi s de e mi a i , heu e I c mpa ab e ( Ahad ) a he m s high p aise f

he h ma ace ( Ahmad ), wi h he barzakh i i i g hem,

he Ahma ia b a wi hi s. I he e a i f Ahmad Ahad , he b a is i g a ea h ( mamat ), whi e i

ha f Ahad Ahmad , i is e e a , i a sie ife (mahya ).this e b a p e e s a hi f m ip ici f m

ai i g he o e ( Ahad ), h we e g ea he ea i g a pa gsf e he sepa a i f m he M s Be e (al-Wadud ) ma

ca se i s, a e i mea s ife s, a keeps s i ife: as

g as G ks p s a sh we s s wi h he p e s fHis Bei g, we exis , we i e, we a e; b whe e e we seek k p G a s ip he a ei f m His Face, we ie,

fa e awa a cease be.Whe we each he se e h spi i a a e, he ef e, a he

e f spi i a j e , we ha e eache he spi i a ab ef he Ahma f bei g, a he e e f he Pe fec Ma , ihe chambe s f wh se hea he k w e ge f he I isib e ahe visib e, a e i e . these a e he w i ispe sab e spi i a

sa a s, e f es e ic, i i ia k w e ge ha e ab ess, s me imes, s ep he sac e s i f he Ahad a eemai a i e, a he he f he ex e ic, wa k w e geha e s es safe passage h gh he ea m f m ip ici

whe e he f p i s f he M sa f bei g ea wa she i e p mise a f he Ahma f bei g.

this, he , is a simp i e s mma f wha Ab ah a -B s awi s gh c e s i he i c i his c m-me a Ib A abis Fusus al-hikam .


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