From Heidegger to Suhravardi: an Interview with Philippe Nemo
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Some Characteristics of Suhrawardi's Illuminationist Philosophy
Special Issue INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES AND January 2016 CULTURAL STUDIES ISSN 2356-5926 Some Characteristics of Suhrawardi’s Illuminationist Philosophy Ali Nazarialiabadi Islamic Azad University of Isfahan, Khorasgan, Iran Corresponding author: [email protected] Fathali Akbari Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran E-mail: [email protected] Seyyed Hashem Golestani Islamic Azad University of Isfahan, Khorasgan, Iran [email protected] Abstract Perhaps one of the most distinctive features of Suhrawardi’s school of thinking is the belief that anyone who does not grasp onto the divine string would necessarily have gone astray. In fact, one would find out that reconciling neo-Platonic ideas with pre-Platonic ideas and incorporating Peripatetic philosophy into the religious foundations of Islam and Iran, Suhrawardi has successfully pursued a very ambitious objective. For Suhrawardi, the followers of the Eternal Wisdom deal with revelation and intuition rather than argumentation and philosophizing. It is important to note that the key to resolving ambiguities in understanding the ideas of philosophers such as Suhrawardi is in clarifying the corresponding terminology in another language. From the point of view of Suhrawardi, all the levels of existence and wisdom as well as the beginning and the continuity of the world, and the bliss and salvation of human beings are parts of the evolution of the Light. Unlike the Peripatetic philosophers, Shaikh al- ʿIshraq (Suhrawardi, master of Illumination) considers the Most High God’s knowledge of objects in an inclusively illuminated manner. Here, we will investigate some characteristics of the Illuminationist philosophy of Suhrawardi; some of which are heeding the scripture and Sunnah, reconciliation of ideas, language networks, expressions of mystery, Perennialism, illumination metaphysics, sympathetic encounters with the ancestors, revelation/intuition and gradation/skepticism. -
Pathways to an Inner Islam
Chapter One INTRODUCTION The spiritual, mystical, and esoteric doctrines and practices of Islam, which may be conveniently, if not quite satisfactorily, labeled as Sufi sm, have been among the main avenues of the understanding of this religion in Western aca- demic circles, and possibly among Western audiences in general. This stems from a number of reasons, not the least of which is a diff use sense that Sufi sm has provided irreplaceable keys for reaching the core of Muslim identity over the centuries, while providing the most adequate responses to contemporary disfi gurements of the Islamic tradition. It is in this context that we propose, in the current book, to show how the works of those whom Pierre Lory has called the “mystical ambassadors of Islam”1 may shed light on the oft-neglected availability of a profound and integral apprehension of Islam, thereby helping to dispel some problematic assumptions feeding many misconceptions of it. The four authors whom we propose to study have introduced Islam to the West through the perspective of the spiritual dimension that they themselves unveiled in the Islamic tradition. These authors were mystical “ambassadors” of Islam in the sense that their scholarly work was intimately connected to an inner call for the spiritual depth of Islam, the latter enabling them to intro- duce that religion to Western audiences in a fresh and substantive way. It may be helpful to add, in order to dispel any possible oversimplifi cations, that these authors should not be considered as representatives of Islam in the literal sense of one who has converted to that religion and become one of its spokesmen.2 None of these four “ambassadors” was in fact Muslim in the conventional, external, and exclusive sense of the word, even though two of them did attach themselves formally to the Islamic tradition in view of an affi liation to Sufi sm, in Arabic tasawwuf. -
Henry Corbin and the Resolution of Modern Problems by Recourse to the Concept of the Imaginal Realm
Henry Corbin and the Resolution of Modern Problems by Recourse to the Concept of the Imaginal Realm SEYYED MOHSEN MIRI Al-Mustafa International University, Iran [email protected] ABSTRACT: This article intends to approach the problems and concerns of the human being from the perspective of Henry Corbin. Corbin laid the groundwork of his thought by inquiring into the condition of the human being and the problems he is faced with. He found the solution to these problems in philosophical and metaphysical principles. Corbin attributed the problems of modern western thought to the peculiar ontology and epistemology of modern western philosophers, and he sought to resolve these problems by postulating a doctrine of the mundus imaginalis. In the present article, I will investigate a number of the modern problems that Corbin identified as posing a challenge to human thought – such as dualism in ontology and epistemology, secularization of philosophy (the separation of philosophy from theology), obsolescence of eschatology, desanctification of art, a one- sided approach to religion, and a lack of fundamental principles for an ecumenical effort to narrow the gap separating the various religions. Thereafter, I will present Corbin’s solution – which draws on Islamic metaphysics with special emphasis on the Imaginal Realm as an Iranian contribution to Islamic metaphysics, with a view to such Iranian philosophers as Avicenna, SuhrawardÐ, and MullÁ ÑadrÁ – followed by a brief criticism. KEYWORDS: Imaginal Realm (‘Álam mithÁl), Henry Corbin, modern problems, Islamic metaphysics, Iranian philosophers. Henry Corbin and the Resolution of Modern Problems Seyyed Mohsen Miri Introduction Henry Corbin (1903-1978) was arguably the most prominent western commentator of the spiritual wisdom and Islamic philosophy that developed within the matrix of Iranian intellectual thought. -
An Analysis of Ibn Al-'Arabi's Al-Insan Al-Kamil, the Perfect Individual, with a Brief Comparison to the Thought of Sir Muhammad Iqbal
v» fT^V 3^- b An Analysis of Ibn al-'Arabi's al-Insan al-Kamil, the Perfect Individual, with a Brief Comparison to the Thought of Sir Muhammad Iqbal Rebekah Zwanzig, Master of Arts Philosophy Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Faculty of Philosophy, Brock University St. Catharines, Ontario © May, 2008 JAMES A GffiSON LIBRARY BROCK UNIVERSITY ST. CATHARINES ON 'I I,, >-•• Abstract: This thesis analyzes four philosophical questions surrounding Ibn al-'Arabi's concept of the al-iman al-kamil, the Perfect Individual. The Introduction provides a definition of Sufism, and it situates Ibn al-'Arabi's thought within the broader context of the philosophy of perfection. Chapter One discusses the transformative knowledge of the Perfect Individual. It analyzes the relationship between reason, revelation, and intuition, and the different roles they play within Islam, Islamic philosophy, and Sufism. Chapter Two discusses the ontological and metaphysical importance of the Perfect Individual, exploring the importance of perfection within existence by looking at the relationship the Perfect Individual has with God and the world, the eternal and non-eternal. In Chapter Three the physical manifestations of the Perfect Individual and their relationship to the Prophet Muhammad are analyzed. It explores the Perfect Individual's roles as Prophet, Saint, and Seal. The final chapter compares Ibn al-'Arabi's Perfect Individual to Sir Muhammad Iqbal's in order to analyze the different ways perfect action can be conceptualized. It analyzes the relationship between freedom and action. \ ^1 Table of Contents "i .. I. Introduction 4 \. -
Religious Studies Review
Religious Studies Review A Quarterly Review of Publications in the Field of Religion and Related Disciplines Volume 6, Number 2 Published by the Council on the Study of Religion April 1980 THE STUDY OF ISLAM: THE WORK OF HENRY CORBIN Hamid Algar Contents Department of Near Eastern Studies University of California Berkeley, CA 94720 REVIEW ESSAYS Orientalism—the purportedly scientific study of the reli The Study of Islam: The Work of Henry Corbin gion, history, civilization, and actuality of the Muslim peo Hamid Algar 85 ples—has recently come under increasing and often justi fied attack. A self-perpetuating tradition that has flourished incestuously, rarely open to participation by any but the "Master of the Stray Detail": Peter Brown and most assimilated and "occidentalized" Muslims, it has sig Historiography nally failed to construct a credible and comprehensive vision Patrick Henry 91 of Islam as religion or as civilization, despite vast and meritorious labor accomplished in the discovery and ac Peter Brown, The Making of Late Antiquity cumulation of factual information. Nowhere have matters Reviewer: Mary Douglas 96 stood worse than in the Orientalist study of the Islamic religion. It is scarcely an exaggeration to say that so radical is the disparity between the Islam of Orientalist description Edward O. Wilson, On Human Nature and the Islam known to Muslims from belief, experience, Reviewer: William H. Austin 99 and practice that they appear to be two different phenom ena, opposed to each other or even unrelated. The reasons Douglas A. Knight (editor), Tradition and Theology in for this are numerous. The persistence of traditional the Old Testament Judeo-Christian theological animus toward Islam should Reviewer: Bernhard W. -
Understanding Sufism
Abstract This thesis addresses the problem of how to interpret Islamic writers without imposing generic frameworks of later and partly Western derivation. It questions the overuse of the category “Sufism” which has sometimes been deployed to read anachronistic concerns into Islamic writers. It does so by a detailed study of some of the key works of the 13th century writer Ibn ‘Ata’ Allah (d. 709/1309). In this way it fills a gap in the learned literature in two ways. Firstly, it examines the legitimacy of prevalent conceptualisations of the category “Sufism.” Secondly, it examines the work of one Sufi thinker, and asks in what ways, if any, Western categories may tend to distort its Islamic characteristics. The methodology of the thesis is primarily exegetical, although significant attention is also paid to issues of context. The thesis is divided into two parts. Part One sets up the problem of Sufism as an organizational category in the literature. In doing so, this part introduces the works of Ibn ‘Ata’ Allah, and justifies the selection from his works for the case study in Part Two. Part Two provides a detailed case study of the works of Ibn ‘Ata’ Allah. It opens with some of the key issues involved in understanding an Islamic thinker, and gives a brief overview of Ibn ‘Ata’ Allah’s life. This is followed by an examination of materials on topics such as metaphysics, ontology, epistemology, eschatology, ethics, and soteriology. In each case it is suggested that these topics may be misleading unless care is taken not to import Western conceptuality where it is not justified by the texts. -
In the Name of God Scientific, Specialized Quarterly Periodical
In the Name of God Scientific, Specialized Quarterly Periodical Charter Holder: Bright Future Institution Executive Director: Masood pour Seyyed Aghaee Editor - in - Chief: Seyyed Rasi Moosavi Gilani Translators: Razieh Shameli, Fatemeh Shameli, Dr. Mohammad Reza Rakhshan Far, Dr. Hamid Bakhshandeh & Zeynab Birriya Translation Manager: Mahdi Ferdowsi Printing Supervisor: Mohammad Qorbani Editorial Board: Dr. Fatemeh Chakbar , Dr. Tijani Samavi, Dr. Poul Wayt, Dr. Antoni Mcroy, Dr. Jasem Hoseyn, Dr. Masood Pour Seyyed Aghaee, Dr. Seyyed Rasi Moosavi Gilani Type setting: Ali Javad Dehghan Graphic Art: Hoseyn Abdollah Pour The printing and bookbinding expenses of the issue have been provided from the permissible and conforming endowments by the Organization for Endowments and Charities. The Cultural Affairs Assistance of Organization for Endowments and Charities Editorial / 5 A Comparison between Western Globalization and Mahdist Global- ization / Bahram Akhavan Kazemi / 9 Henry Corbin’s Phenomenological View of the Mahdism Doctrine / Seyyed Razi Moosavi Gilani / 47 Globalization of Economics and the Necessity for the Doctrine of Mahdism / Naser Jahanbani / 55 An Approach to the Political Issues in the Doctrine of Mahdism / Gholam Reza Behrooz Lak / 80 The Coming of Jesus and God’s Righteous Kingdom / Thomas Fin- ger / 80 Oh Mahdi! The bright stature of Imamate / Ali Safa’i / 90 Peace be upon the incessant ideal of man Editor - in chief Editorial The Bright future 6 Scientific, Specialized Mahdism Quarterly Periodical Editorial Now in the third millennium of history, what more than anything else attracts the attention of the people is the appearance of so many opinions, thoughts and schools, each of which, in a way or another, attempts to find solutions for people’s troubles and to reply to their questions of the meaning of life. -
SUFISM: ISLAMIC MYSTICISM and SPIRITUALITY Department of Religious Studies, FIU Professor: Dr. Carlos Grenier ([email protected]
SUFISM: ISLAMIC MYSTICISM AND SPIRITUALITY Department of Religious Studies, FIU Professor: Dr. Carlos Grenier ([email protected]) Office hours: Before class or by appointment Overview: At the heart of the religion of Islam is its mystical tradition, Sufism. Practitioners of Sufism often departed from Islamic law and traditional orthodoxy and follow edwidely varying paths towards a mystical union with the divine. Usually organized into distinct groupings and schools of thought, Sufis strove for spiritual progress through an array of meditative practices, mystical recitations, music, and dance. They often expressed these truths in poetry and other arts, and so profoundly influenced Islamic culture as a whole. Ultimately the spread of Islam into Asia and sub-Saharan Africa was almost exclusively through the syncretic and esoteric teachings of these mystics who formed bridges between indigenous philosophies and the Islamic tradition by a focus on love of the Divine, the Prophet, and his family over fear of Divine judgment. Today Sufi mysticism remains a vitally important aspect of contemporary Islam – one that is not always visible on the global stage. Aims: This course aims to use primary and secondary texts to give students a thorough grasp of the Sufi mystical perspective, its terminology, and the social histories of its practitioners. By the completion of this course, students shall be able to (1) Recognize the major ethical and philosophical precepts that unite Sufism across its many manifestations, (2) Become aware of key variations within the varied panorama of Sufi thought and practice, and (3) Be able to place Sufism within a historical and cross-cultural perspective. -
Professor James Winston Morris Department of Theology Boston College E-Mail: [email protected] Office Telephone: 617-552-0571 Many of Prof
1 Professor James Winston Morris Department of Theology Boston College e-mail: [email protected] Office telephone: 617-552-0571 Many of Prof. Morris’s articles and reviews, and some older books, are now freely available in searchable and downloadable .pdf format at http://dcollections.bc.edu/james_morris PREVIOUS ACADEMIC POSITIONS: 2006-present Boston College, Professor, Department of Theology. 1999-2006 University of Exeter, Professor, Sharjah Chair of Islamic Studies and Director of Graduate Studies and Research, Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies. 1989-99: Oberlin College: Assoc. Professor, Department of Religion. 1988-89: Temple University: Asst. Professor, Department of Religion. 1987-88: Princeton University: Visiting Professor, Department of Religion and Department of Near Eastern Studies. 1981-87: Institute of Ismaili Studies, Paris/London (joint graduate program in London with McGill University, Institute of Islamic Studies): Professor, Department of Graduate Studies and Research. EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC HONORS: HARVARD UNIVERSITY PH.D, NEAR EASTERN LANGUAGES CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS AND CIVILIZATIONS, 1980 Major field: Islamic philosophy and theology; minor fields: classical philosophy, Arabic language and literature, Persian language and literature, . Fellowships: Danforth Graduate Fellowship (1971-1978); Whiting Foundation Dissertation Fellowship (1978-1979); foreign research fellowships (details below). UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO B.A., CIVILIZATIONAL CHICAGO, ILLINOIS STUDIES, 1971 Awards and Fellowships: University Scholar; -
Rethinking Philosophy in an Oriental Way Rethinking Philosophy In
Rethinking Philosophy in an Oriental Way ٭ Gholamreza Aavani Abstract The question to be posed in this article is whether there is such a thing as an ‘oriental philosophy’, and if so what are its main features and distinctive marks, and most important of all, can we rethink philosophy in an oriental way? This question was answered by Muslim philosophers when they encountered the vast heritage of Greek science and philosophy and, having themselves imbibed the gist of Greek philosophy, tried to maintain and transcend it to reach what they called Oriental Wisdom. Having traced the history and development of this idea in Islamic philosophy, we have tried to answer the question as to how it is possible to apply the principles of the so-called Oriental Philosophy first to broaden and deepen our conception of philosophy, and again to achieve a unified conception of philosophy which might embrace both the eastern and western traditions of thought. Key Terms: Oriental Philosophy, Islamic philosophy, Avicenna, Ghazzālī, Suhrawardī, Ibn Tufayl, Ibn ‘Arabī, Averroes, the deorientalization of philosophy, contemporary relevance Introduction “Rethinking” is embedded and inherent in the very nature of philosophy if it is not to turn into a fragile and stereotyped dogma. But the way or the method of rethinking is all too important. As a matter of fact, it is all that matters in respect of the theme under discussion. So the all-important question is: How should we rethink philosophy? My solution is that we can rethink philosophy in an oriental way. In my Professor at the Iranian Institute of Philosophy E-mail: [email protected] ٭ 6 Sophia Perennis, Vol. -
Recognising a Model of Postmodern Pluralism Through Looking at Islam
Preliminary communication UDC 28:[221.7+23+24](045)(083.77) doi: 10.21464/sp31216 Received January 27th, 2016 Nevad Kahteran University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Philosophy, Franje Račkog 1, BA–71000 Sarajevo [email protected] Recognising a Model of Postmodern Pluralism through Looking at Islam from the Standpoint of Far Eastern Traditions1 A Dialogue between Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism Abstract Being a Bosnian pioneer in the field of Eastern and comparative philosophy, the author of this essay on understanding is personally dedicated to the cultivation of a new spirit of phi- losophy that cuts across classical borders and opens its understanding of “universality” to a multitude of cultural and intellectual histories. Paving the way for establishing a platform for an Islamic-Hinduist-Buddhist-Confucian dialogue in the Balkans, while simultaneously joining hands with what has already been done in the meantime by other researchers in this field, and exploring Buddhist, Chinese and Islamic studies in the context of the persisting challenges that India, China, and the Islamic world face, he believes that the broadening of philosophical horizons in this regard will be an exciting experience and a cross-cultural exchange taking into account that dialogue between them is more than necessary today – especially when dialogue increases the effectiveness of listening as the basis for symbiotic coexistence. Also, this essay underlines the importance of a relation between the contempo- rary Islamic, Chinese, and Buddhist thought and civilisation, as well as the importance of Islamic works in the language of neo-Confucianism, and the rise of an intellectual current in China called Han Kitab and prominent Chinese-Muslim thinkers such as Liu Zhi, Ma Zhu, Wang Daiyu and others. -
History of Islamic Philosophy Henry Corbin
History of Islamic Philosophy Henry Corbin Translated by Liadain Sherrard with the assistance of Philip Sherrard KEGAN PAUL INTERNATIONAL London and New York in association with ISLAMIC PUBLICATIONS for THE INSTITUTE OF ISMAILI STUDIES London The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London The Institute of Ismaili Studies was established in 1977 with the object of promoting scholarship and learning on Islam, in the historical as well as contemporary context, and a better understanding of its relationship with other societies and faiths. The Institute's programmes encourage a perspective which is not confined to the theological and religious heritage of Islam, but seek to explore the relationship of religious ideas to broader dimensions of society and culture. They thus encourage an inter-disciplinary approach to the materials of Islamic history and thought. Particular attention is also given to issues of modernity that arise as Muslims seek to relate their heritage to the contemporary situation. Within the Islamic tradition, the Institute's programmes seek to promote research on those areas which have had relatively lesser attention devoted to them in secondary scholarship to date. These include the intellectual and literary expressions of Shi'ism in general, and Ismailism in particular. In the context of Islamic societies, the Institute's programmes are informed by the full range and diversity of cultures in which Islam is practised today, from the Middle East, Southern and Central Asia and Africa to the industrialized societies of the West, thus taking into consideration the variety of contexts which shape the ideals, beliefs and practices of the faith. The publications facilitated by the Institute will fall into several distinct categories: 1 Occasional papers or essays addressing broad themes of the relationship between religion and society in the historical as well as modern context, with special reference to Islam, but encompassing, where appropriate, other faiths and cultures.