Sufi Path of Knowledge

William Chittick is a Professor of Religious Studies at State University of New York, Stony Brook. He is author of The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi and nine other books.

• Introduction The Life and Works of Ibn al-'ArabiThe Meccan OpeningsKoranic HermeneuticsThe Study of Ibn al-'Arabi in the WestThe Present Work 1. Overview 1. The Divine PresenceFinding GodWorlds and PresencesBeing and NonexistenceThe Divine AttributesThe Divine ActsThe MacrocosmThe MicrocosmCosmic DynamicsThe Return to GodAssuming the Traits of GodTheomorphic EthicsThe Scale of the LawSeeing Things as They AreHuman Perfection 2. Theology 2. The Names of GodNames, Attributes, and Relationships(1) The Names of the Names(2) Relationships(3) The Two Denotations of the Names(4) Realities, Roots, and Supports(5) Properties and EffectsThe Names of Engendered ExistenceSecondary Causes 3. The Divine Roots of Hierarchy and ConflictHierarchy in the NamesRanking in DegreesThe Names PersonifiedThe Divine ConflictThe Unity of the EssenceNames of Incomparability and Names of Acts 4. The Essence and the DivinityThe DivinityThe Unkowability of the EssenceThe Independence of the EssenceThe Name "Allah"The Disputes of the AngelsIncomparability and SimilarityIncomparabilitySimilarityCombining Incomparability and Similarity 3. Ontology 5. Existence and NonexistenceBeing/Existence and the Existent: Wujud and MawjudPossible ThingsEntitiesThingsLoci of ManifestationSelf-Disclosure and ReceptivityOneness of Being and Effects of the Names 6. The New CreationInfinite PossibilityPerpetual RenewalDivine TasksBreaking HabitsTransmutation and TransformationNever-Repeating Self-DisclosuresBoredomThe HeartNondelimitation 7. Cosmic ImaginationHe/Not HeImaginationDreamsThe Manifestation of the Impossible 8. The Supreme BarzakhThe CloudThe Breath of the All-MercifulRelief Through MercyThe Real Through Whom Creation Takes PlaceThe Universal RealityNature 4. Epistemology 9. Knowledge and the KnowerKnowledge and KnowledgeThe Usefulness of KnowledgeLimits to KnowledgeThe Infinity of Knowledge 10. Acquiring KnowledgeThe Rational FacultyReflectionConsiderationFollowing AuthorityUnveiling 11. The Scale of the LawThe Revealed LawThe ScaleWisdom and CourtesyThe Scale of ReasonAffirming SimilarityReactions to the Revelation of Similarity 5. Hermeneutics 12. Faith and Rational InterpretationFaithInterpretationThe Rational ThinkersActs of God and Acts of Man 13. Knowing God's Self-DisclosureFinding LightThe Lights of Self-DisclosureNaming the Perception of LightWitnessing and Vision 14. Understanding the KoranThe Goal of Rational InquiryReason versus UnveilingThe Character of MuhammadThe Context of the KoranThe Commentary of the Folk of AllahCommentary by AllusionKnowledge of Hadith 6. Soteriology 15. Weighing Self-DisclosureKnowledge and PracticeThe Inviolability of the LawSpiritual StatesSpiritual Mastery 16. Names and StationsThe Divine FormThe Stations of the PathAssuming the Character Traits of GodNoble and Base Character Traits 17. Pitfalls of the PathGood and EvilThe Two CommandsThe Perfection of ImperfectionGod's Conclusive ArgumentThe Straight PathNobility of Character 18. Safety in ServanthoodThe Servant's Worship of his LordThe Perils of LordshipThe Exaltation of LowlinessThe Perfect ServantWorship Through Free Will OfferingsObligations and Supererogations 7. Consummation 19. Transcending the Gods of BeliefThe Roots of BeliefWorshiping God and SelfKnowing SelfPaths of BeliefBelief and the LawThe Belief of the GnosticBeatific Vision 20. Seeing with Two EyesDuality and the Signs of UnityThe Possessor of Two EyesBeing With God Wherever You AreTwo PerfectionsServing the Divine NamesThe People of BlameThe Station of No Station NotesBibliographyIndexes

"For the first time in the history of Orientalism, a thorough study of Ibn al-'Arabi's thought is now available. William Chittick has given us a translation of numerous passages from the work of the Magister Magnus and placed them in their theological context, thus removing many misunderstandings that have prevailed both among Muslims and in the West when interpreting Ibn al-'Arabi's mystical worldview. Chittick has done this with admirable clarity, and his book will always remain a most important milestone in the study of Islamic mystical theology." — Annemarie Schimmel, Harvard University