Interpreting Ibn ÊArabÄ«

Acknowledgments
Note on Transliteration and Translation

Introduction
The Problems (mushkilÄt) of the Fua¹£Å«a¹£: Interpretive Divergences
From the Lack of Understanding (Êadam al-fahm): Solving the Problems of the Fua¹£Å«a¹£
The Present Study: Interpreting Ibn ÊArabÄ«

1 âAll is He, All is Not Heâ: The Vision of Huwa-lÄ Huwa
The Entities (aÊyÄn) are Not Made (ghayr majÊÅ«l) and Non-Existent (maÊdÅ«m)
The Mirror-Entities and the Color-Entities
The Pre-Existent Forms (a¹£uwar) of the Entities: The Cloud, the Barzakh, the Creator-Real

2 Divine Power and Human Freedom
The Essence (DhÄt) and the Divinity (IlÄh), Determination (taqdÄ«r) and Creation (khalq)
Freedom and Compulsion, Responsibility (taklīf) and Predestination (qadar)

3 Incomparability and Similarity
To Affirm Incomparability is to Affirm Limitation (taa¸¥dÄ«d) and Restriction (taqyÄ«d)
Transcending the God of Beliefs (al-ilÄh al-muÊtaqadÄt)
The Divinity Clothed in Forms of Belief: Worshiping the Idols of Belief

4 âCreated in his/His Formâ: The All-Comprehensive Form of Man
Originated and Beginningless (a¸¥Ädith azalÄ«), Perpetual and Endless (dÄʾim abadÄ«)
The Problem of Manâs Firstness (awwaliyya)
Creation (khalaqa) in Two Senses: Determination (taqdÄ«r) and Existentiation (Ä«jÄd)

5 Becoming a Form of God (a¹£Å«rat al-a¸¤aqq)
The False Form (a¹£Å«ra bÄa¹­ila) of the Pharaoh of Moses (FirÊawn MÅ«sÄ)
The Form of al-KharrÄz, One of the Tongues of God (lisÄn min alsinat al-a¸¤aqq)

6 The Messenger takes his Knowledge from the Seal of the Saints
The Prophets (anbiyÄʾ) in the Fua¹£Å«a¹£ al-a¸¥ikam
The Seal of the Saints: âthe space for two bricksâ (mawa¸iÊ labinatayn)

7 Interpreting the QurʾÄn
Between taʾwÄ«l, ishÄra, and ÊubÅ«r: Ibn ÊArabÄ«âs QurʾÄnic Hermeneutics
Abrahamâs Sacrifice (dhaba¸¥), Godâs Deception (makr), Drowning in Knowledge

8 The Hermeneutics of Mercy
The Faith of Pharaoh (Ä«mÄn FirÊawn) in Q. 10:90-92
From Torments (ÊadhÄb) to the Sweetness of Torments (ÊudhÅ«ba)

Conclusion: Interpreting the Shaykh al-Akbar
âHe/not Heâ Revisited: Ambiguity and Knowledge as Perplexity (a¸¥ayra)
âHe who does not know the status of imagination has no knowledgeâ

Bibliography
Index