The Sufi Path of Knowledge: Ibn al-'Arabi's Metaphysics of Imagination- Paperback

The definitive introduction to the thought of Ibn al-'Arabi, Islam's greatest mystic and metaphysician—William Chittick's masterful exploration of the Shaykh al-Akbar's visionary cosmology, metaphysics of imagination, and the path of spiritual realization.

Ibn al-'Arabi (1165-1240) is widely regarded as the most influential Sufi master in Islamic history, whose vast corpus of writings has shaped Islamic mysticism, philosophy, and theology for eight centuries. In this groundbreaking work, William Chittick presents the first comprehensive study of Ibn al-'Arabi's teachings in English, drawing on the master's own words to illuminate his profound vision of reality, the human soul, and the journey to God.

What you'll discover:

• Ibn al-'Arabi's metaphysics of the Divine Names and cosmic manifestation
• The doctrine of the Perfect Human (al-insan al-kamil) and spiritual realization
• The creative imagination as the bridge between spirit and matter
• The unity of being (wahdat al-wujud) and the relationship between God and creation
• The stages of the spiritual path from servanthood to sainthood
• Ibn al-'Arabi's integration of Islamic law, theology, and mystical experience
• Extensive translations from Ibn al-'Arabi's major works, especially The Meccan Revelations
• The cosmology of the imaginal world and spiritual wayfaring

Chittick's scholarship is both rigorous and accessible, making Ibn al-'Arabi's complex metaphysical vision comprehensible to contemporary readers. Through careful translation and lucid explanation, he reveals how the Shaykh al-Akbar synthesized Islamic revelation, philosophical inquiry, and direct mystical experience into a comprehensive worldview that addresses the deepest questions of existence, consciousness, and divine love.

This work is essential for understanding not only Ibn al-'Arabi but the entire tradition of Islamic mystical philosophy. His teachings on the imagination, the Perfect Human, and the unity of being have influenced Sufism across all orders and continue to inspire scholars, mystics, and seekers worldwide.

About the author: William C. Chittick is one of the world's foremost scholars of Sufism and Islamic mysticism. A professor of Religious Studies at Stony Brook University, he has devoted his career to translating and interpreting the works of Ibn al-'Arabi and other Sufi masters, making their profound wisdom accessible to English-speaking readers.

Perfect for: Serious students of Sufism and Islamic mysticism, scholars of Islamic philosophy and theology, those interested in metaphysics and cosmology, readers exploring Ibn al-'Arabi's thought, students of comparative mysticism and perennial philosophy, and anyone seeking deep understanding of the Sufi path of knowledge and realization.

This paperback edition includes 464 pages of profound scholarship—the essential introduction to Ibn al-'Arabi's visionary metaphysics and the Sufi path of spiritual knowledge.