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Ibn ʿarabī’S Metaphysics in the Context of Andalusian Mysticism: Some Akbarian Concepts in the Light of Ibn Masarra and Ibn Barrajān

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Ibn ʿarabī’S Metaphysics in the Context of Andalusian Mysticism: Some Akbarian Concepts in the Light of Ibn Masarra and Ibn Barrajān Article Ibn ʿArabī’s Metaphysics in the Context of Andalusian Mysticism: Some Akbarian Concepts in the Light of Ibn Masarra and Ibn Barrajān Gracia López-Anguita Facultad de Filología, Universidad de Sevilla, C/Palos de la Frontera s/n, 41004 Sevilla, Spain; [email protected] Abstract: The aim of this article is to trace the origins of some of the key concepts of Ibn Arabi’s metaphysics and cosmology in earlier Andalusian Sufi masters. Within the context of the seminal works on Ibn Arabi’s cosmology and metaphysics produced from the second half of the 20th century onwards and through a comparison of texts by the Sufi masters Ibn Masarra and Ibn Barrajān, we will see which elements are taken from previous sources and how they are transformed or re-inter- preted by Ibn ʿArabī in a philosophical-mystical system that would become the point of reference for the later Eastern and Western Sufi tradition. Keywords: Sufism; al-Andalus; Ibn Arabi; metaphysics; cosmology; islamic mysticism; Ibn Masarra; Citation: López-Anguita, Gracia. Ibn Ibn Barrajān ʿArabī’s Metaphysics in the Context of Andalusian Mysticism: Some Ak- barian Concepts in the Light of Ibn Masarra and Ibn Barrajān. Religions 1.religions Introduction 2021, 12, x. https://doi.org/10.3390/ We believe that the optimal methodology for the study and interpretation of Ibn xxxxx Article Ibn ʿArabīArabı’s¯’s work Metaphysics is self-exegesis, in the Context based on of a Andalusiancomparison of his texts and on the reconstruction Mysticism:of his organic Some Akbarianand dynamic Concepts thought, in the the Light keys ofto which are distributed throughout his Received: 1 December 2020 Ibn Masarra and Ibn Barrajan¯ Accepted: 30 December 2020 extensive work. Commenting on Ibn ʿArabī through Ibn ʿArabī emerges as the only pos- Published: 7 January 2021 Gracia Lsibleópez-Anguita method to understand an author who is the creator of his own worldview and lan- guage. However,Facultad de Filologit isía, also Universidad evident de Sevilla, C/Palos that de la certain Frontera s/n, 41004 pre Sevilla,-existing Spain; ideas found in authors writing Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neu- before the [email protected] may have been a point of reference for him, although establishing the tral with regard to jurisdictional origin and parentageAbstract: The aim of of this a articlecertain is to trace idea the origins or ofterm some of is the always key concepts ofa Ibn risky Arabi’s undertaking. A fundamen- metaphysics and cosmology in earlier Andalusian Sufi masters. Within the context of the seminal claims in published maps and insti- tal clue is providedworks on Ibn Arabi’s logically, cosmology and by metaphysics the producedexplicit from thementions second half of the in 20th centuryhis texts of works and authors ¯ tutional affiliations. onwards and through a comparison of texts by the Sufi masters Ibn Masarra and Ibn Barrajan, we will that were referencesee which elements points are taken fromfor previous him, sources which, and how theyhowever, are transformed does or re-interpreted not apply where philosophers, by Ibn Arab¯ı in a philosophical-mystical system that would become the point of reference for the not Sufis, arelater concerned. Eastern and Western SufiWe tradition. can gain an idea of Ibn ʿArabī’s learning background from the first part of his Ījāza li-l-mālik al-Muẓaffar1 which reveals the fundamental role played Keywords: Sufism; al-Andalus; Ibn Arabi; metaphysics; cosmology; islamic mysticism; Ibn Masarra; by the scienceIbn Barrajof an¯the hadith in his education. Among the scholars included in this work Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. are traditionists, exegetes, philologists, writers, faqihs, judges, etc.; philosophy is absent Submitted for possible open access Citation: Landópez-Anguita, scholastic Gracia. 1. Introduction theology (kalām) has a very minor presence. The most famous example of publication under the terms and 2021. Ibn Arab¯ı’s Metaphysics in the We believe that the optimal methodology for the study and interpretation of Ibn Context of Andalusian Mysticism: the attitude thatArab¯ı’s Ibn work isʿArabī self-exegesis, showed based on a comparisontowards of his philosophy texts and on the reconstruction is probably the passage in Futūḥāt conditions of the Creative CommonsSome Akbarian Concepts in the Light of his organic and dynamic thought, the keys to which are distributed throughout his 2 Attribution (CC BY) license of Ibn Masarrathat and Ibn indirectly Barrajan.¯ alludes to Alfarabi, whilst avoiding explicitly saying his name . Religions 12: 40. https://doi.org/ extensive work. Commenting on Ibn Arab¯ı through Ibn Arab¯ı emerges as the only possible (http://creativecommons.org/li- 10.3390/rel12010040 Withoutmethod entering to understand here an author into who the is the complex creator of his own issue worldview of andthe language. relationship between Akbarian However, it is also evident that certain pre-existing ideas found in authors writing before censes/by/4.0/). Received: 1thought December 2020 andthe philosophy, mystic may have been in athe point sense of reference of for falsafa him, although of Greek establishing origin, the origin it is sufficient to quote two Accepted: 30 December 2020 and parentage of a certain idea or term is always a risky undertaking. A fundamental Published: 8 January 2021 clue is provided logically, by the explicit mentions in his texts of works and authors that were reference points for him, which, however, does not apply where philosophers, not Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neu- Sufis, are concerned. We can gain an idea of Ibn Arab¯ı’s learning background from the tral with regard to jurisdictional clai- first part of his Ij¯ aza¯ li-l-malik¯ al-Muzaffar1 which reveals the fundamental role played by 1 ˙ Edited by (Badawi 1955)ms. “ inAutobibliografía published maps and institutio- the de science Ibn of ʿ theArabi hadith” in. hisAl education.-Andalus Among, XX.2, the scholars pp. 107 included–28; in thisBadawi. work are 1979. Paris; S. ʿAbd al-Fattāḥ. 1995. Cairo. A comprehensivenal affiliations. list of Ibn ʿArabītraditionists,’s works exegetes, is philologists, to be found writers, in faqihs, (Aladdin judges, etc.; et philosophy al. 2009). is absent and scholastic theology (kalam¯ ) has a very minor presence. The most famous example of the 2 “I have seen an infidel declare in a book called The ideal city (I had found this book which I had not seen previously, at the home Copyright: © 2021 by the author. Li- of an acquaintance of minecensee in MDPI, Marchena Basel, Switzerland. of the Olives had picked it up to see what it was about and came across the following chapter: ‘In this chapter IThis wish article is to an openexamine access article how to postulate [the existence of a divinity in this world’. He had not said God (Allah)! distributed under the terms and con- I was amazed and threwditions the of thebook Creative Commonsat its At- owner’s face.” (Addas 1993, p. 108 and Ibn ʿArabī 1911, III, p. 178). On the one hand, C. tribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). 1 Edited by (Badawi 1955). “Autobibliografía de Ibn Arabi”. Al-Andalus, XX.2, pp. 107–28; Badawi. 1979. Paris; S. Abd al-Fatta¯h. 1995. Cairo. A Religions 2020, 11, x; doi: FOR PEERcomprehensive REVIEW list of Ibn Arab¯ı’s works is to be found in (Aladdin et al. 2009). www.mdpi.com/journal/religions Religions 2021, 12, 40. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12010040 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/religions Article Ibn ʿArabī’s Metaphysics in the Context of Andalusian Mysticism: Some Akbarian Concepts in the Light of Ibn Masarra and Ibn Barrajān Gracia López-Anguita Facultad de Filología, Universidad de Sevilla, C/Palos de la Frontera s/n, 41004 Sevilla, Spain; [email protected] Religions 2020, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 14 of 20 Abstract: The aim of this article is to trace the origins of some of the key concepts of Ibn Arabi’s [and finally] he finds the place of the footstool and the place of the spirit to be metaphysics and cosmology inpermanent earlier Andalusian and encompassing Sufi. (Ibnmasters. Masarra Within 2007a, 93 the transl. context Stroumsa of andthe Sviriseminal works on Ibn Arabi’s cosmology2009 and, pp. metaphysics 219–21) produced from the second half of the 20th century onwards and through a comparison[Water] ofdescends texts byfrom the heaven, Sufi evenmasters though Ibn it isMasarra not manifest and (ẓ Ibnāhir) Barrajān,heaven it- we self today, it is therein in a non-manifest (bāṭin) manner. Just as creatures that will see which elements are takenare engendfrom previousered from water sour areces from and heaven how .they (Ibn Barrajān,are transformed Tanbīh, vol. 5,or p. re 241-inter- preted by Ibn ʿArabī in a philosophicaltransl. Casewit-mystical 2014) system that would become the point of reference for the later Eastern and WesternThe Sufi higher tradition. corresponds (yantaẓim) to the lower. (Ibn Barrajān, Īḍāḥ in Casewit 2014, p. 297) Keywords: Sufism; al-Andalus;Ḥaqq, khalqIbn ,Arabi; raqīqa metaphysics; cosmology; islamic mysticism; Ibn Masarra; Citation: López-Anguita, Gracia. Ibn Ibn Barrajān One of the most seminal concepts in Ibn Barrajān’s work is al-ḥaqq al-makhlūq bihi al- ʿālam/al-samawāt wa-l-arḍ (the truth through which is created the world / creation / the ʿArabī’s Metaphysics in the Context heavens and earth or The Real according to Creation is created) which appears in the three of Andalusian Mysticism: Some Ak- works mentioned above. This idea, based on various Qur’anic ayahs (Q 10:15; 15:85; 44:38– barian Concepts in the Light of Ibn 39) which imply that the ḥaqq is an instrument of God in creation, would find a significant Religions 2021, 12, 40 echo in Ibn ʿArabī.
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