This seminar will focus upon Ibn `Arabi's most widely read work, The Bezels of Wisdom (Fusus al-Hikam), sometimes translated as Ring Settings of Wisdom or even Ringstones of Wisdom.

The work consists of 27 chapters, each of which articulates an aspect of Ibn `Arabi's mystical philosophy as it is exemplified by the wisdom of one of the prophets. It begins with a chapter on Adam and ends with a chapter on Muhammad.

In addition, we will read Ibn `Arabi's most famous collection of poetry, the Interpreter of Desires, sometimes translated as the Translator of Desires, or the Translation of Desires, or even the Biographer of Desires (Turjuman al-Ashwaq). We will focus on the relationship of love lyric to mystical philosophy and the major controversies that surrounded the original publication of these love lyrics.

Required Books:

• Ibn `Arabi, Bezels of Wisdom, translated by Ralph Austin, Classics of Western Spirituality series.
• Michael Sells, Stations of Desire: Love Elegies by Ibn `Arabi and New Poems, Ibis Editions
• Ibn `Arabi, The Tarjuman al-Ashwaq (Interpreter of Desires), English translated by R. Nicholson.
• Early Islamic Mysticism, translated by Michael Sells, Classics of Western Spirituality series.
• William Chittick, Imaginal Worlds: Ibn `Arabi and the Problem of Religious Diversity.

The prerequisite this course is the consent of the instructor. That consent is based upon either
a) significant previous study of Islam as a tradition and Sufism (Islamic mysticism) within Islam
OR
b) the willingness to fill in this background by reading substantial sections of one book before taking the course and by making up other readings during the first weeks of the course.

Required reading for those who have not taken a course on Islam or Sufism is the book Early Islamic Mysticism (EIM), pp. 5-74, which must be read and absorbed before the first class of the semester. These pages include a) a general introduction to Sufism up to the time of Ibn `Arabi, b) the Qur'anic passages that are absolutely essential for any reading of Ibn `Arabi, c) the passages from the Mi`raj (ascent of Muhammad) traditions that Ibn `Arabi evokes continually, and d) the poetic tradition of which Ibn `Arabi was an integral part.

Recommended readings:

• 1) The Chapter on Islam in Huston Smith's The World's Religions. (This book is widely available in any major bookstore) and will be placed on reserve at Haverford's Magill Library.
• 2) As a balance to Smith, the Matthew Gordon's Islam chapter in The Illustrated Guide to World Religions, ed. by Michael Coogan (Oxford University Press, 1998), offers fine view into the sights, sounds, rituals, and textures of Islamic life and history, while still presenting clear and accurate narrative. Do not confuse this book with another of the same title that is superficial: make sure it is the Oxford, Coogan edited volume. This book is currently available on Reserve for the Michael Sells's course Religion/ComparativeLiterature 262a: Islamic Literature and Civilization and will be placed on reserve for Rel. 353 at the beginning of next semester.
• 3) The Overview of the Sufi Tradition, Reynold Nicholson, Mystics of Islam. This short book was written decades ago and the style is of an earlier period, but it is still the most useful short overview of Sufi tradition for our purposes. This book will also be placed on reserve at the beginning of next semester.

 Course Requirements: Short Paper (25%), Class Attendance and Participation (25%), Final Paper (50%)

Week 01: 22 January	EIM 5-74 Introduction to Sufism and its Sources, BW 51-60 Adam, Transl 2 (ER)
Week 02: 29 January	EIM 75-96, BW 1-50, 60-81 Intro to Ibn `Arabi and the Adam Chapter, Seth and Noah
Week 03: 05 February	BW 82-95 Enoch and Abraham, EIM 97-170 Qushayri and Rabi`a 196-211 Sarraj
Week 04: 12 February	BW 96-110 Isaac and Ishmael , EIM 212-250 Bistami
Week 05: 19 February	BW 111-127 Jacob, and Joseph EIM 171-195 Muhasibi, TA, 24
Week 06: 26 February	BW 128-155 Hud, Salih, and Shu`ayb, TA Intro, poem1
Week 07: 05 March	BW Lot, Ezra, and Jesus, EIM 251-265 Junayd, TA poem 11
7 March	4-5 page paper due
Week 08: 12 March	Spring Vacation
Week 09: 19 March	BW Solomon, David, and Jonah, TA poems TA Poem 2
Week 10: 26 March	BW 212-236 Job, John, Zachariah, and Elias, TA poems 3-6
Week 11: 2 April	BW 236-267 Luqman, Aaron, and Moses, TA poems 7-10
8 April	Special Lecture: Stephen Hirtenstein, biographer of Ibn `Arabi
Week 12: 9 April	BW 268-285 Khalid and Muhammad, TA poems 14-15, TA poems 12-13
Week 13: 16 April	No Class
Week 14: 23 April	TA poems 16-25
Week 15: 30 April	TA poems 45-50
16 May, 4:00 PM	Final Paper Due in the Gest Center, 2nd Floor.