Books reviews

Some of the books in the list below have links to reviews, or extracts made available on the publishers' web site.

The Book reviews and Bibiliographies page lists other sources of book reviews.

Books by other publishers

The following books can be ordered through the Ibn 'Arabi Society in the United Kingdom, using the on-line form.

Postage Costs

All prices are quoted in Pounds Sterling, and do not include shipping and handling charges. A capital letter in brackets, eg; (B), indicates the postage code.

Postage code: A B C D E F G
UK £1.50 £1.75 £2.00 £2.50 £2.75 £3.50 £5.00
Rest of World £2.00 £2.50 £3.00 £3.75 £4.50 £5.50 £6.50

For larger orders it may be possible to reduce the postage. (Please ask for a quote.)

Overseas post: Books going to Europe are sent airmail, and to any other destination by surface mail.

A Prayer for Spiritual Elevation and Protection – Ibn 'Arabi's al-Dawr al-a'la or Hizb al-wiqaya

Suha Taji-Farouki

Study, translation, transliteration and Arabic text. More details.

Anqa Publishing in association with Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi Society. September 2006

Paperback £13.95 + postage (B)

Alone with the Alone: Creative Imagination in the Sufism of Ibn 'Arabi

by Henry Corbin

An introduction with biographical details on Ibn 'Arabi with two complementary essays: Sympathy and Theopathy and Creative Imagination and Creative Prayer.

Princeton University Press, 1997

Paperback £17.95 + postage (E)

An Ocean without Shore - Ibn 'Arabi, The Book and the Law

by Michel Chodkiewicz

An examination of the Koranic roots in the writings of Ibn 'Arabi. Read a Review from the Journal. Read another Review on archipress.org.

SUNY Press, 1993

Paperback £12.95 +postage (C)

Commentaries on Meister Eckhart Sermons

by Dom Sylvester Houedard OSB

Six of Eckhart's sermons presented as text intertwined with commentary, in which Dom Sylvester draws freely on knowledge of diverse spiritual traditions, including the thought of Ibn 'Arabi.

Beshara Publications, 2000

Paperback £9.50 + postage (B)

Contemplation of the Holy Mysteries, Mashâhid al-asrâr

by Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi

One of the earliest major works of Ibn 'Arabi, translated into English for the first time. Read a Review from the Journal. Read an Extract from the book on the publisher's website. Translated from Arabic by Cecilia Twinch and Pablo Beneito.

Anqa Publishing, 2001

Hardback £18.50 + postage (D)

Divine Governance of the Human Kingdom

by Ibn 'Arabi

In "Divine Governance of the Human Kingdom", at-Tadbirat al-ilahiyyah, Ibn 'Arabi uses metaphors from worldly politics to illuminate details of the spiritual search. The volume also includes "What the Seeker Needs", Kitab Kunh ma la budda minhu lil-murid and "The One Alone", Kitab al-ahadiyyah. Interpreted by Tosun Bayrak from the Ottoman Turkish.

Fons Vitae, 1997

Paperback £14.95 + postage (D)

Divine Sayings, The Mishkat al-Anwar of Ibn 'Arabi

Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi

Translation into English of Ibn 'Arabi's "Niche of Lights", his collection of 101 hadith qudsi, together with the Arabic text, established from early manuscripts. Arabic text and English translation by Stephen Hirtenstein and Martin Notcutt. Read an Extract on the publisher's website.

Anqa Publishing, 2004

Hardback £19.95 + postage (D)

El lenguaje de las alusiones - amor, compasión y belleza en el sufismo de Ibn 'Arabi

Pablo Beneito

This book includes three chapters related to essays which appear in English on this website, on The Divine love of Beauty, and The Servant of the Loving One - reflections on the Divine Names al-Jamil and al-Wadud, and on The Presence of Superlative Compassion (Rahamût). Altogether there are seven chapters.

Editora Regional de Murcia, 2005

Paperback £6.95 + postage (C)

Ibn 'Arabi and Modern Thought - The History of Taking Metaphysics Seriously

by Peter Coates

An examination of some of the central and defining ideas of modernity in the light of Ibn 'Arabi's writings on the Unity of Existence. Read a Review from the Society Library Report. Read an Extract on the publisher's website.

Anqa Publishing, 2002

Hardback £19.95 + postage (D)
Paperback £13.95 + postage (C)

Ibn 'Arabi - Heir to the Prophets

William C. Chittick

This is a concise introduction by a leading scholar, covering many aspects of Ibn 'Arabi's writings with a minimum of technical language. It is part of the Makers of the Muslim World series intended as an introduction "for general readers and academics alike."

Oneworld Publications, 2005

Paperback £12.99 + postage (B)

Ibn 'Arabi in the later Islamic Tradition

by Alexander D. Knysh

An analysis of the heated debates around Ibn 'Arabi's ideas in the three centuries following his death.

SUNY Press, 1998

Paperback £19.95 + postage (E)

Imaginal Worlds

by William Chittick

An examination of Ibn 'Arabi's concepts of human perfection, the World of the Imagination and the reasons for religious diversity.

SUNY Press, 1994

Paperback £15.00 + postage (C)

Islamic Sainthood in the Fullness of Time, Ibn 'Arabi's Book of the Fabulous Gryphon

by Gerald Elmore

Translation and study of the Anqa' al-Mughrib. Read a Review from the Society Library Report, 2001.

Brill, 1999

Hardback To order only. Not kept in stock. Price approximately £155.00 + postage (£6.50 UK, £10.00 rest of world).

Kernel of the Kernel

by Ibn 'Arabi

From the Lubb-ul-Lubb. A treatise of instruction for the mystic who undertakes the journey to Union with God. With commentary by Ishmael Hakki Bursevi, translated by Bulent Rauf. Read an Extract from the book on the publisher's website.

Beshara Publications 1981, Reprinted 1997

Hardback £9.95 + postage (B)

La Production des Cercles, Kitâb inshâ ad-dawâ'ir al-ihâtiyya

by Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi

Book of the Description (i.e. drawing) of the Circles Encompassing the Correspondence of Man to Creator and Creatures. Parallel text - Arabic / French translation, with introduction and notes by Paul Fenton & Maurice Gloton.

Éditions de l'Éclat, 1996

Paperback £12.50 + postage (B)

La taberna de las luces

Selección, presentación y traducción Pablo Beneito

This is a collection of Sufi poetry from al-Andalus and the Maghreb, covering a time-span from the 12th to the 20th centuries. Authors include Ibn 'Arabi, Al-Shushtari, Al-Harraq, and others. There is no Arabic text - the poems are introduced and translated into Spanish by Pablo Beneito.

Editora Regional de Murcia, 2004

Paperback £6.95 + postage (B)

Las contemplaciones de los misterios (Mashahid al-asrar al-qudsiya wa-matali al-anwar al-ilahiyya)

Muhyi l-Din Ibn 'Arabi

This includes a critical edition made by Suad Hakim and Pablo Beneito of the Arabic text of the Mashâhid al-asrâr of Ibn 'Arabi, and their introduction and translation of the text into Spanish. This was the basis for the English translation by Cecilia Twinch, Contemplation of the Holy Mysteries.

Editora Regional de Murcia, first printed 1994, reprinted 2003

Paperback £6.95 + postage (D)

Lawa'ih

by Nur-ud-din 'Abd-ur-Rahman Jami

Lawa'ih (Flashes of Light) was written 1465-66. In a combination of prose and poetry Jami describes the teachings of Ibn 'Arabi and his school. Contains a facsimile of an early Persian manuscript. This translation by E.H. Whinfield and Mirza Muhammad Kazvini was first published in 1906. Reprinted, with introduction by S.H. Nasr.

Theosophical Society, 1978

Hardback £5.95 + postage (B)

Le Dévoilement des Effets du Voyage, Kitâb al-isfar 'an natâij al-asfâr

Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi

Describes the kinds of journeys travelled by human beings, with specific reference to the model journeys of the prophets. Parallel text - Arabic / French translation, with introduction and notes by Denis Gril. Read a Review from the Journal.

Éditions de l'Éclat, 1994

Paperback £15.50 + postage (C)

L'Interprète des Désirs

by Ibn 'Arabi

The Tarjuman al-Ashwaq translated into French with introduction and notes. Includes Ibn 'Arabi's full commentary. Translated by Maurice Gloton.

Albin Michel, Paris, 1996

Paperback £19.50 + postage (E)

Mystical Astrology According to Ibn 'Arabi

by Titus Burckhardt

A distillation of the essential symbolism underlying spiritual astrology from the works of Ibn 'Arabi. Translated from the French by Bulent Rauf.

Beshara Publications 1977.

Paperback £5.95 + postage (A)

Mystical Languages of Unsaying

by Michael Sells

Readings of the texts of Plotinus, Eriugena, Porete, Ibn 'Arabi and Eckhart. Read a Review on an external website. List of reviews on Michael sells website.

University of Chicago Press, 1994

Paperback £15.50 + postage (D)

Orientations - Islamic Thought in a World Civilisation

by James Morris

Focuses on the universal elements of Islamic thought and spirituality, as resources for a constructive response to the challenges shared by all human beings in our emerging global civilisation. Explores the complementary approaches of al-Farabi, Ibn 'Arabi and Ostad Elahi

Archetype, 2004

Paperback £9.95 + postage (B)

Quest for the Red Sulphur

by Claude Addas

A major biography covering the temporal and mystical life of Ibn 'Arabi. Read a Review of the orignal French edition published in Studia Islamica.

The Islamic Texts Society, 1993

Paperback £20.99 + postage (E)

Stations of Desire, Love Elegies from Ibn 'Arabi and New Poems

Michael Sells

Translations from the Tarjuman al-Ashwaq into modern poetic English, with an introduction, and a section of poems by Michael Sells. Read a Review from the Society Library Report. Read a Review on the publisher's website. Read an extract.

Ibis Editions, 2000

Paperback £8.50 + postage (B)

Sufi Metaphysics and Qur'anic Prophets: Ibn 'Arabi's thought and method in the Fusûs al-Hikam

by Ronald L. Nettler

An analytical commentary on the Fusûs al-Hikam closely following Ibn 'Arabi's arguments in their order and organisation. Based on ten chapters.

Islamic Texts Society, 2003

Paperback £19.99 + postage (D)

Sufis of Andalusia, The Rûh al-quds and al Durrat al-fåkhirah

by Ibn 'Arabi

Biographical sketches of some of the spiritual masters and contemplatives amongst whom Ibn 'Arabi spent his early years. Translated with introduction and notes by Ralph Austin. Read an Extract from the book on the publisher's website.

Beshara Publications, 2002

Paperback £11.95 + postage (B)

Sufism and Taoism

by Toshihiko Izutsu

An analysis and comparison of the works of Ibn 'Arabi, Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu.

University of California Press, 1984

Hardback £35.00 + postage (F)

The Bezels of Wisdom

by Muhyiddin Ibn al-'Arabi

Complete translation of the Fusus al-Hikam. Preface by Titus Burckhardt. Translated, with introduction, by R.W.J. Austin. Read a Review on a site describing resources for schools in America.

Paulist Press, 1980. Reprinted 1997

Paperback £17.99 + postage (D)

The Meccan Revelations, Volume I

Ibn Al 'Arabi

Translations from the Arabic of selected texts of al-Futuhat al-Makkiya. These translations first appeared in Les Illuminations de la Mecque, Sindbad, Paris, 1988. Edited by Michel Chodkiewicz. Translated by William C. Chittick & James W. Morris. Preface and Introduction by James Morris.

Pir Press, New York, 2002.

Paperback £12.95 + postage (D)

The Meccan Revelations,Volume II

Ibn Al 'Arabi

Translations from the Arabic of selected texts of al-Futuhat al-Makkiya. These translations first appeared in French in Les Illuminations de la Mecque, Sindbad, Paris, 1988. Edited by Michel Chodkiewicz. Translated by Cyrille Chodkiewicz and Denis Gril. Introduction by Michel Chodkiewicz.

Pir Press, New York, 2004.

Paperback £12.95 + postage (D)

The Mysteries of Bearing Witness to the Oneness of God and Prophethood of Muhammad

by Muhyidin Ibn al-'Arabi

A translation by Aisha Bewley of three chapters of the Futuhat and a portion of the Introduction. The greatest part of the book consists of the translation of the last chapter of the Futuhat (Chapter 560), called here "Advice Which Benefits the Seeker".

Great Books of the Islamic World, 2002

Paperback £16.95 + postage (D)

The Nightingale in the Garden of Love, The Poems of Uftade

Mehmed Muhyiddin Uftade

The spiritual poems of the great Ottoman Sufi master, Mehmed Muhyiddin Uftade (1490-1580). Introduction by Paul Ballanfat providing details of Uftade's life and teachings, and including extracts from the diary of his famous disciple Aziz Mahmud Hudayi. Uftade had a direct spiritual connection with both Ibn 'Arabi and Rumi. Translated by Paul Ballanfat. English translation by Angela Culme-Seymour.

Anqa Publishing, 2005

Paperback £13.95 + postage (B)

The Reflective Heart - Discovering Spiritual Intelligence in Ibn 'Arabi's Meccan Illuminations

James Morris

As one reviewer says, 'James Morris provides numerous keys for those who would like to open up their hearts to the vast panaorama of spiritual instruction provided by al-Shaykh al-Akbar... No other book demonstrates so clearly the universality of Ibn 'Arabi's concerns and their contemporary applicability'. Contains many translated passages.

Fons Vitae, 2005

Paperback £15.00 + postage (E)

The Ringstones of Wisdom (Fusús al-hikam)

Ibn al-'Arabi

Translation of all 27 chapters of theFusús al-Hikam, with extensive notes by Caner K. Dagli.

Great Books of the Islamic World, 2004

Paperback £18.95 + postage (E)

The Self-Disclosure of God

by William Chittick

Like Chittick's earlier work, The Sufi Path of Knowledge, this book is based primarily on Ibn 'Arabi's Futuhat al-Makkiyya. More than 100 chapters and subsections are translated. The book is divided into 3 parts, dealing with the relation between God and the cosmos, the structure of the cosmos, and the nature of the human soul.

SUNY Press, 1997

Paperback £17.00 + postage (G)

The Seven Days of the Heart, Prayers for the nights and days of the week

Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi

Translation into English of Ibn 'Arabi's Awrâd al-usbû (Wird), with introduction and notes. Translated by Pablo Beneito and Stephen Hirtenstein. Read an Extract on the publisher's website.

Anqa Publishing, 2000

Hardback £22.00 + postage (D)
Paperback £13.95 + postage (B)

The Seal of the Saints

by Michel Chodkiewicz

An exploration of Ibn 'Arabi's teachings on Sainthood. Read a Review of the orignal French edition published inStudia Islamica.

Islamic Texts Society, 1993

Paperback £18.95 + postage (C)

The Spiritual Writings of Amir Abd al-Kader

by Michel Chodkiewicz

Translations from the works of Abd al-Kader, which include commentaries on the writings of Ibn 'Arabi.

SUNY Press, 1995

Paperback £14.25 + postage (C)

The Sufi Path of Knowledge

by William Chittick

Over 600 passages translated from the Futuhat , with commentaries, organised by theme. Read a Review published in theJournal of the American Oriental Society

SUNY Press, 1989

Paperback £18.00 + postage (G)

The Tarjumán al-Ashwáq

by Ibn al-'Arabi

Translation by Reynold Nicholson of Ibn 'Arabi's most famous work of poetry with his commentary and the Arabic text.

Theosophical Publishing House, 1978

Paperback £6.95 + postage (B)

The Tree of Being, Shajarat al-kawn, An Ode to the Perfect Man

by Ibn 'Arabi

This is a translation of the Shajarat al-Kawn, a work long attributed to Ibn 'Arabi, but now thought to be by 'Abd al-Salam b. Ghanim al-Maqdisi (d. 1280). Introduced and interpreted by Tosun Bayrak.

Archetype, 2005

Paperback On order

The Twenty-Nine Pages. An Introduction to Ibn Arabi's Metaphysics of Unity

-

Consisting of edited highlights from A. E. Affifi's "The Mystical Philosophy of Muhyid Din Ibnul Arabi" (Cambridge University Press, 1938), this book provides an introduction to the language and thought of Ibn Arabi.

Beshara Publications, 1998

Paperback £7.50 + postage (A)

The Universal Tree and the Four Birds – Treatise on Unification (al-Ittihad al-kawni)

Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi. Introduction, translation and commentary by Angela Jaffray, Arabic text edited by Denis Gril.

The Universal Tree and the Four Birds is one of Ibn 'Arabi's early works. A dazzling blend of poetry and rhymed prose, this short mystical treatise encompasses a number of themes that were of perennial concern to Ibn 'Arabi, in particular the question of union with the Divine. More details.

Anqa Publishing in association with Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi Society. September 2006

Paperback £13.95 + postage (B)

The Unlimited Mercifier, The Spiritual life and thought of Ibn 'Arabi

Stephen Hirtenstein

A new appreciation of Ibn 'Arabi's life and thought. Seventeen alternating chapters of biography and thought, with illustrations, photographs and maps. Both an introduction and a further study. Read a Review published inThe Expository Times. Read an Extract on the publisher's website.

Anqa Publishing & White Cloud Press, 1999

Hardback £29.99 + postage (E)
Paperback £17.50 + postage (D)

The Voyage of No Return

by Claude Addas

An introduction to the life and thought of Ibn ‘Arabi. Read a Review of the original French edition from the Journal, and of the English edition from the Society Newsletter.

Islamic Texts Society, 2000

Paperback £12.99 + postage (B)

The Way of Abu Madyan

Vincent J. Cornell

The Works of Abu Madyan Shu'ayb, edited and translated by Vincent J. Cornell with introduction and notes. The first critical edition in Arabic of these works and the first English translation. Parallel text.

Islamic Texts Society, 1996

Paperback £22.95 + postage (D)

The Wisdom of the Prophets, (Fusus al-Hikam)

by Ibn 'Arabi

Twelve chapters from the Fusus al-Hikam in this first translation into English. Translated from Arabic to French by Titus Burckhardt, from French to English by Angela Culme-Seymour. Read an Extract on the publisher's website.

Beshara Publications, 1975

Hardback £10.95 + postage (C)
Paperback £7.50 + postage (B)

'Umar Ibn al-Farid, Sufi Verse, Saintly Life

'Umar Ibn al-Farid, Th. Emil Homerin

New translation into English of poetry by the celebrated Egyptian mystical poet 'Umar Ibn al-Farid, a contemporary of Ibn 'Arabi. Includes theWine Ode;Poem of the Sufi Way, and in English for the first time, theAdorned Proem to the Diwan, a hagiography of the poet by his grandson Ali. Translated and introduced by Th. Emil Homerin, Preface by Michael Sells.

Paulist Press, New York, 2001

Paperback £14.00 + postage (D)

Universal Man

by Abd al-Karim al-Jili

Extracts in translation of the celebrated work by Jili, a spiritual descendant of Ibn 'Arabi. Translated with commentary by Titus Burckhardt. English translation by Angela-Culme Seymour. Read an Extract from the book on the publisher's website.

Beshara Publications, 1985

Paperback £7.50 + postage (A)

"Whoso Knoweth Himself..."

by Ibn 'Arabi

From the Treatise on Being (Risale-t-ul-wujudiyyah), a concise and elevated exposition of unity. Translated by T.H. Weir.

Beshara Publications, 1975

Paperback Temporarily unavailable

CDs and DVDs

A Garden Amidst Flames, Readings from Ibn 'Arabi

Produced by Aaron Cass and David Norland.

A CD of readings in English from Ibn 'Arabi accompanied by music. The extracts are taken from theTarjuman al-Ashwaq, Sufis of Andalusia, Whoso Knoweth Himself... andThe Kernel of the Kernel. For further details and sample tracks, see Beshara Publications.

Beshara Publications / Vastearth words and music, 2002.

CD £12.50 + postage (A)

Al-Ghazali - The Alchemist of Happiness

A film by Ovidio Salazar

Born in 1058 in Tus, Khorasan, in present-day Iran, al-Ghazali was an original thinker whose writings are often referred to by Ibn 'Arabi. This film sets out to discover who al-Ghazali was and whether we, living in the 21st century, can still find relevance in his teaching.

Matmedia Productions, 2006

DVD £19.95 + postage (A)

Ibn 'Arabi - El interprete de los deseos

Ensemble Ibn Baya & Corfradia Shushtari.

A selection of poems from Ibn 'Arabi'sTarjuman al-Ashwaq, set to music and sung in Arabic on CD, directed and produced by Omar Metioui and Eduardo Paniagua. Accompanied by a booklet with Arabic text and translations in Spanish, English and French. Poems selected by Pablo Beneito.

CD £10.00 + postage (A)

Turning

A film by Diane Cilento, 1973. Beshara Publications 2007.

This film traces the evolution of spirituality in Anatolia from the 10,000-year old wall paintings of Çatal Hoyuk and mysterious Hittite carvings, through the images of Diana of the Helenistic and Roman periods, to the Virgin Mary, who is believed to have spent her last days at Meryemana above the ancient city of Ephesus. From there it becomes an introduction to Jelaluddin Rumi, in the evocative imagery of the sema' of the Mevlevi dervishes. This production was made using the best available copy of the original. It is a precious record of an outstanding independent film, which preserves the freshness of the sema' in Konya in the early 1970s, and conveys the stunning narrative voices of Diane Cilento and Bulent Rauf.

DVD £12.50 + postage (A)