Ibn ‘Arabi: al-Futūḥāt al-Makkiyya, Ch. 372
Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi
Mystic, philosopher, poet, sage, Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi (1165–1240) was one of the world’s great spiritual teachers.
Ibn Arabi was born in Murcia in Arab al-Andalus, and his writings had an immense impact throughout the Islamic world and beyond. The universal ideas underlying his thought are of immediate relevance today.
The Society
The Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi Society (MIAS) was founded in 1977 to promote a greater understanding of the work of Ibn Arabi and his followers.
It is an international association with its headquarters in Oxford England and a branch in Berkeley California. The Society is funded by the annual subscriptions of its members. It collaborates with affiliated societies in Spain and Australia.
Activities
» Publications: The Society has published a Journal since 1982, which is now peer-reviewed and appears twice a year. It has published books, particularly a translation into English of the Fuṣūṣ al-ḥikam. Its website provides over 200 articles, mainly from the Journal.
» Events: The Society has organised conferences in the UK and the USA since 1984. Podcasts and videos of more than 100 talks from Society events are available on this website.
» Historic manuscript project: Since 2002 the Society has been engaged in collecting copies of historic manuscripts of the works of Ibn Arabi. A version of the catalogue is available on this website.
Society Membership
If you are interested in Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi, his work and his teachings, you are welcome to join the Society. Among other benefits, Members receive the Society Journal, have discounted entry to Society events, and free admission to live online talks.
Supporting the Society
For information about some of the Society’s planned developments over the next three years, and how it makes use of regular donations, one-off gifts and bequests, please see the page on supporting the Society.
Recently Added Quotation
Futūḥāt Translation Project
9 November 2022
God produces nearness in the required rituals greater than nearness in the voluntary ones, and the required are more dear to Him.
Book 9, Chapter 71
17 November 2022
I do not depart from my ʿubūdīyah for even a blink of the eye.
* ʿubūdīyah: the state of being a slave; servanthood
Book 9, Chapter 71
Go to the Quotations page
Featured Article
Souad Hakim
The Paths to God: A Journey through the Spiritual Experience of Ibn Arabi and His Writings
“The paths to God” is a phrase which carries within it a paradox because, firstly, it gives the reader the impression that God (praise be to Him) is far away, absent, or even the expectation that the seeker (salik) travels the path to arrive at the Holy Threshold. However, according to the scriptures, God (praise be to Him) is close to His servants – He is with them wherever they are. In truth, He is the Seeker in the one who reaches out to Him (praise be to Him), and He hastens towards the one who walks towards Him. This begs the question as to why the Sufi seeks a way to reach God (praise be to Him), all the while being certain that God is with him and close to him.
List of all articles
Featured Podcast
Éric Geoffroy
Spiritual Realization (al-tahqiq) through Daily Awakening
This is a meditation on the meaning of al-tahqiq (verification or realisation) which is central to the writing of Ibn ‘Arabi, and drawing on the writings of Sufis before Ibn ‘Arabi, such as Junayd (d. 911 AD, the “Leader of the Sufis”, sayyid al-ta’ifa), and others after him, such as Shaykh al-‘Alawi. Junayd said, “I have achieved al-tahqiq by staying in the presence of God for thirty years under these stairs”, by which he meant the stairs of his house. The paper later published in the Journal of the Society can be found here.
List of all podcasts
Featured Video
Latest News
November 2022
Ibn ‘Arabi, receptivity and the idea of the feminine
Four online seminars over the weekend November 19-20, 2022. Speakers: Eric Winkel, Jane Clark, Cecilia Twinch, and Gracia Lopez.
Go to the Events page
More on the Society website
A collection of articles and videos reflecting “Ibn ‘Arabi, receptivity and the idea of the feminine” available on the MIAS website and its Youtube channel.
Go to the Resources page
19 November 2022 — 11 AM Morocco time
“Spiritual history of the world”
Dr Munir Ishqi will speak in Arabic on “The spiritual history of the world in Ibn Arabi’s thought”
Go to the Events page
November 2022
Winner of first Translation Prize
Professor Matthew Melvin-Koushki is awarded the inaugural MIAS Translation Prize on a prose text by Ibn ‘Arabi.
Go to the Events page
1 October 2022
Creative encounters with Ibn ‘Arabi
A website is launched by MIAS Education featuring expressive individual responses to Ibn ‘Arabi’s writing.
Go to the web site
July 2022
Society Journal, Volume 71
Volume 71 of the Journal of the Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi Society is now available. It includes articles by Alison Roberts, William Chittick, Francesco Chiabotti and Atif Khalil.
See the list of contents
June 2021
Futūḥāt Translation Project
Dr Eric Winkel is engaged in a translation into English of Ibn al-‘Arabi’s Futūḥāt al-Makkīyah, from beginning to end. It is being published progressively by the Pir Press, and Volume 3 (comprising Books 5 and 6) has just been launched.
Social Media
The Society in the USA maintains a Facebook Page, and the Society in the UK maintains a Facebook Group. Both provide news about Society events, and the Facebook Group can be a good place to ask questions.
Contact
The Society is administered from two centres: Oxford (UK) and Berkeley (USA). The Society in the UK is responsible for everywhere outside North America.
Making a Donation
As a non-profit organisation, the Society welcomes donations of any size. Donations help underwrite the many activities of the Society.
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