The Covenant of Alast: When Love Shared its Promise

"Different Aesthetics" – A New Approach to Sufi Texts? The topic of the MIAS-Warburg Symposium was inspired by an interdisciplinary research project on Premodern Aesthetics spearheaded by the University of Tuebingen. It approaches aesthetic acts and artifacts not as objects sufficient unto themselves and hence to be viewed with 'disinterested pleasure' (Kant), but as agents endowed with an aesthetic energy in which their true purpose resides, and which explains the dynamic impact they can have on socio-cultural and psychological processes. The aesthetic acts and artifacts studied by the project also include Christian mystical texts whose aesthetic energy aims to engender in the recipient a state of consciousness akin to the beatific vision. A collection of papers produced by contributors to the Tuebingen project has just appeared in English translation (Different Aesthetics: Principles, Questions, Perspectives, edited by A. Gerock-Reiter et al., De Gruyter, 2025). The presentation will introduce the scope of the project, discuss recent examples of its application to Christian and Muslim texts, and conclude with remarks on its relevance for the study of the Akbarian tradition. Stefan Sperl graduated from Oxford (Arabic) and SOAS (PhD 1977), and spent ten years working for UNHCR in Egypt, Sudan and Geneva. He joined SOAS in 1988 and retired in 2018 as Emeritus Professor of Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies. His publications include articles on Arabic, Islamic and Refugee Studies, as well as Mannerism in Arabic Poetry: A Structural Analysis of Selected Texts (1989), Qasida Poetry in Islamic Africa and Asia (with C. Shackle, 1996) and The Cosmic Script: Sacred Geometry and the Science of Arabic Penmanship (with A. Moustafa, 2014) which won the Iran Book of the Year Award (2016). His recent publications are 'The Qur’an and Arabic Poetry' (The Oxford Handbook of Qur’anic Studies, 2020), the volume Faces of the Infinite, Neoplatonism and Poetry at the Confluence of Africa, Asia and Europe with the accompanying website lyrics-of-ascent.net (with Y. Dedes, 2022), and 'Islamic Spirituality and the Visual Arts' (The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Islamic Spirituality, 2023). He continues to be actively engaged in research and since 2023 has been teaching Arabic literature courses at the University of Cambridge. Recorded by Warburg Institute

The Body of the Caliph: Corporeal Governance of the Human Kingdom in Ibn 'Arabi's al-Tadbirat al-ilahiyya and its Commentaries In his Book of the Divine Governances for the Restoration of the Human Kingdom (K. al-Tadbirat al-ilahiyya fi islah al-mamlaka al-insaniyya), Ibn 'Arabi describes how the flourishing of the individual depends on a spiritual policy ensuring harmony in the human microcosm. This governance of the individual is centred on the caliphal authority of the spirit and its vizier, the intellect. But where does that leave the body? Is it merely reduced to passive obedience to this authority, or does it too play an active role in this internal politics? In this presentation, we shall revisit the Tadbirat from the vantage point of the body, while also examining two later commentaries by Husayn b. Tu'ma al-Baytimani (d. 1175/1761) and Muhammad al-Damuni (d. ca. 1208/1794). GREGORY VANDAMME is a scholar specialising in classical Sufi thought, particularly the works of Ibn 'Arabi and his commentators. He holds a PhD in Religious Studies from UCLouvain, where his dissertation focused on the concept of hayra (perplexity) in Ibn 'Arabi’s thought, exploring its implications in epistemology, metaphysics, and Qur'anic hermeneutics. Currently, Gregory is a post doctoral research associate at the University of Chester, following his roles as a research fellow at F.R.S.–FNRS and UCLouvain in Belgium, and as guest lecturer at SciencesPo Paris. His research primarily delves into the doctrines of speculative mysticism, Qur'anic hermeneutics, and spiritual education in Sufism. Recorded by Warburg Institute

This paper explores the pivotal role of the Adamic fass in unlocking the profound metaphysical framework of Ibn al-'Arabi's Fusus al-Hikam. Centering on the concept of the comprehensive Being (al-kawn al-jami'), a term mentioned in the opening paragraph of the Fusus, the Adamic fass emerges as the key to understanding the divine necessity of human existence as a mirror of God's names and attributes. By elucidating the unique ontological position of Adam as the khalifa (vicegerent) and the synthesis of all divine manifestations, this study demonstrates how the Adamic 'fass' provides the interpretive lens through which the overarching unity and wisdom of each fass of the Fusus al-Hikam can be accessed. Ultimately, the paper argues that Adam represents not only the archetype of perfected humanity but also the means through which the divine self-disclosure (tajalli) achieves its fullest realization, making the Adamic fass the cornerstone for comprehending Ibn al-Arabi's vision of existence. Mukhtar Ali is Professor of Islamic Studies, specializing in Sufsm, Islamic philosophy and ethics. His areas of interest include Arabic and Persian literature, Qur'anic studies, theology, traditional medicine and comparative religion. He is the author of Philosophical Sufsm: An Introduction to the School of Ibn al-'Arabi (Routledge, 2021) and The Horizons of Being: The Metaphysics of Ibn al-'Arabi in the Muqaddimat al-Qaysari (Brill, 2020) and his forthcoming work, Inscriptions of Wisdom: The Sufism of Ibn al-'Arabi in the Mirror of Jami, is a study on Ibn al-'Arabi's masterpiece, Fusus al-hikam through the lens of Jami's Naqd al-nusus fi sharh Naqsh al-Fusus. " Recorded by Warburg Institute

Ibn 'Arabi states in Futuhat that 'the breath of the creatures comes from the divine breath' or that 'the human breath has the same form as that of the Merciful.' Parting from this idea, a whole set of implications related with the articulation of language, the act of praising, the continuous creation, the esoteric-exoteric dialectic or even with love, unfolds itself. From the reading of some of Ibn Arabi's cosmological texts, it can be deduced that there is a correlation between the cycle of breath exhalation/inhalation and the rhythm of creation/annihilation in the Universe. Gracia López Anguita is a lecturer in the Dept. of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Seville. She obtained her European PhD with a thesis on Ibn Arabi's treatise 'Uqlat al-mustawfiz awarded with the Doctorate Prize. She focuses her research on the thought of this Master and his school. She has been a visiting researcher at Allameh Tabatabai University and at the École Pratique des Hautes Études and is currently part of the team of the research project funded by the Spanish Government and European funds: "Cultural and Religious Identity in Sufism in Morocco and Senegal: Hagiographies, Gender and Symbology." Recorded by Warburg Institute

Muhammad writes: This lecture explores the concept of the anthropocosmic self in Ibn 'Arabi's thought, presenting his vision of life as a dynamic interplay between the human being, the cosmos, and the divine. Ibn ʿArabi, a seminal figure in Sufism, offers a profound framework for understanding selfhood - not as an isolated entity but as a microcosm deeply interwoven with the macrocosm and the divine. This anthropocosmic perspective reorients the purpose of human existence from self-centred individuality to a participatory role in the unfolding of divine realities within creation. It argues that the ultimate vision of life, according to Ibn 'Arabi, is a journey of spiritual realization, wherein the human being transcends dualities and becomes a living bridge between the physical and the transcendent realms. The talk concludes by reflecting on the contemporary relevance of Ibn 'Arabi’s anthropocosmic vision, particularly in addressing modern existential and ecological crises, offering a model of selfhood that harmonizes personal flourishing with cosmic and spiritual interconnectedness. Muhammad U. Faruque is Associate Professor of Islamic Philosophy and Environmental Studies at the University of Cincinnati. A scholar of Islamic Studies and global philosopher, he has lectured widely across North America, Europe, and Asia. His work, translated into multiple languages, has been recognized by major U.S. funding bodies, including the Templeton Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education. His first book, Sculpting the Self (University of Michigan Press, 2021), won the World Prize for Book of the Year from the President of Iran. His forthcoming book, The Interconnected Universe: Sufism, Climate Change, and Ecological Living, explores how Sufi contemplative practices foster an ecologically sustainable way of life through an "anthropocosmic" vision of the self.

This is an online book launch in December 2024 in conjunction with Anqa Books (Stephen Hirtenstein) and the Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi Society (Kris Ramlan). Professor Michael Sells gives an appraisal, followed by a Q&A. This book is the first English translation of two key works by Ibn 'Arabi on the 99 Divine Names: Kashf al-ma'nā and an excerpt from Futūḥāt al-Makkiyya. With an introduction and insightful notes, it presents Ibn 'Arabi's comprehensive understanding of the Divine Names, which underpin the very fabric of existence, and how he focuses on three aspects of the Names: our dependence on each Name, the reality of the Name in relation to God, and the servant's being characterised by the Name. It is an essential guide for anyone seeking to understand the real mystical significance of the Divine Names and Ibn 'Arabi's vision of the divine-human relationship. Pablo Beneito, Professor in the Department of Translation and Interpreting at the University of Murcia, Spain, is a renowned translator and commentator on Ibn 'Arabi's works. He also serves as the editor of El Azufre Rojo: Revista de Estudios sobre Ibn Arabi and coordinates activities for the Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi Society–Latina.

To help bring Ibn 'Arabi's timeless teachings to life for people today, Dickson, in his new book, explores key themes from the Fusus al-Hikam (The Gemstones of Wisdom), a work that conveys the essential wisdom of the prophets on being, reality and human capacity. Dickson addresses many of the challenging aspects of Ibn 'Arabi's thought, showing how multiple interpretations allow it to engage modern audiences and contribute to philosophical and ecumenical discussions. This conversation will focus on how complex metaphysical ideas and theological debates can be accessible and relevant for both spiritual seekers and intellectuals. Join us for a gathering featuring an insightful contemporary engagement with Ibn 'Arabi’s ideas. Hailing from Calgary, Alberta, William Rory Dickson was drawn to Islam and Sufism in his late teens. He pursued the study of Sufism in graduate degrees in Waterloo, Ontario, while maintaining a broad interest in various contemplative traditions. His first book, Living Sufism in North America: Between Tradition and Transformation (SUNY 2015), was the first academic monograph on North American Sufi groups. He has co-authored an introduction to Sufism with Meena Sharify-Funk, Unveiling Sufism: From Manhattan to Mecca (Equinox 2017), as well as an overview of Sufism in the modern period, Contemporary Sufism: Piety, Politics, and Popular Culture (Routledge 2018), with Sharify-Funk and Merin Shobhana Xavier. His latest work, Dissolving into Being: The Wisdom of Sufi Philosophy (Anqa 2024) offers an introduction to Sufi philosophy, providing a modern commentary on chapters of Ibn 'Arabi’s Gemstones of Wisdom. Dickson is Associate Professor and Chair of the Religion and Culture Department at the University of Winnipeg.

Dunja writes: In Islam, Azrael is best known as the angel of death. The divine unveilings he received led Ibn Arabi to the conclusion that he is also a friend, healer and protector of pious Muslims. My lecture dwells deeper into the archangel's relationship with humans - with special emphasis on the spiritual seekers endowed with the heart of Azrael. Dunja Rasic is a researcher at the University of Religions and Denominations and the author of The Written World of God (Oxford: Anqa Publishing, 2021), Bedeviled (Albany: State University of New York Press, 2024) and The Nightfolk (Oakland: University of California Press, 2025). Her research interests revolve around philosophical Sufism, philosophy of language, Sufi cosmology and the school of Ibn 'Arabi.

The title for this talk is drawn from the final mysterious book-title mentioned by Ibn 'Arabi in his listing of his own writings in the Fihrist ('Catalogue'). It would be impossible to appreciate Ibn 'Arabi's writings without encountering the notion of al-insān al-kāmil explicitly or implicitly, but how and where does Ibn 'Arabi actually use the term in his writing? What are the key features of this perfect human? In what way could it apply to each and every human being? Stephen Hirtenstein is a MIAS Senior Research Fellow and Director of Anqa Publishing. He served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi Society from 1982 to 2023. Since 2001, he has been working on the MIAS archiving project for the historic manuscripts of Ibn 'Arabi. He works as an Editor for the Encyclopaedia Islamica (Brill in association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London) and runs courses on Sufism and Sufi poetry at the University of Oxford. His most recent publications include a three-part article on Ibn 'Arabi’s Fihrist ('Catalogue') in the Journal, and books such as Patterns of Contemplation (2021) and Ibn 'Arabi’s Prayers for the Week (2021). He is currently revising his first book, The Unlimited Mercifier (1999). He has just been elected an Honorary Fellow of the Ibn 'Arabi Society.

Angela writes: Overshadowed by his younger brother Moses, known primarily for his negative role in the Golden Calf saga, the Prophet Aaron’s importance may seem to some negligible, his status auxiliary, his effect doubtful. A close reading of the Shaykh al-Akbar’s various treatments of this seemingly minor prophet, however, allows us to take a second look at this paradoxical prophet and the complex nature of his leadership and cosmic significance, as themes as perplexing as transcendental and immanental worship, mercy and severity, beauty and majesty come to the fore. This presentation will examine a number of texts where Aaron’s role is singled out in a significant way. In addition to the more familiar Futūḥāt chapters (primarily: "Alchemy of Human Happiness," and "Breath") and the Fuṣūṣ al-Ḥikam’s "Chapter on the Religious Leadership in the Word of Aaron,"" we will also take a look at various other sources, including the Prayers of the Week, the Mosul Revelations, the Night Journey, and the Voyages of the Prophets. Angela Jaffray is an independent scholar specialising in the translation of and commentary on the short works of Ibn 'Arabī. Her translation of Ibn 'Arabī’s al-Ittiḥād al-kawnī (The Universal Tree and the Four Birds) was published by Anqa Publications in 2007, and her translation and commentary on Ibn 'Arabī’s Isfār 'an natā’ij al-asfār (The Secrets of Voyaging) was published by Anqa Publications in 2015, reprinted in 2016. She is currently working on a revised translation and commentary on al-Niffarī’s Mawāqif and Mukhaṭabāt.