THE RINGSTONES OF WISDOM

(Fusūs al-Hikam by Ibn ‘Arabi)

Caner K. Dagli

Fusūs al-Hikam is one of the most influential and controversial books of Islamic civilization. This relatively brief but far-reaching text covers topics such as creation, prayer, the relationship of God with the world, and the interpretation of dreams. Its author, the thirteenth century Andalusian mystic philosopher Ibn al-‘Arabi, remains a towering figure both in the intellectual and spiritual life of the Muslim world.

The Ringstones of Wisdom is an entirely new translation. Caner Dagli provides readers with a detailed introduction and running commentary almost equal in length to the text itself. These glosses draw from the centuries-old tradition of commentary upon the Fusūs, and are presented in unencumbered philosophical language and supplemented with new material. They explain Ibn al-‘Arabi’s metaphysical ideas, his technical vocabulary, and even the frequently difficult structure of his prose and poetry. As a precise and technically consistent translation of a notoriously difficult work, The Ringstones of Wisdom is an important addition to the study of Sufism and Islamic philosophy. Scholars in the field will find new insights into Ibn al-‘Arabi’s technical terms and aspects of the text which previously have gone unstudied. Those without a previous knowledge of Sufism or Islam will find that the commentary and the clarity of the translation make the book accessible to non-specialists as well