The preface
Ibn al-ʿArabī introduces the Fuṣūṣ through a vision he dates to Damascus in 627 AH/1229. This is his account of receiving the book and presenting it to readers, and should be attributed explicitly to him. It informs his understanding of knowledge and writing without replacing the study of the text and its transmission.
Twenty-seven wisdoms
The contents list 27 chapters, from Adamic to Muhammadan wisdom. They are not simply biographies of prophets: each title connects a wisdom with a prophetic word and develops Qurʾanic and intellectual relationships. The Joseph chapter, for example, opens questions of dreams, imagination and interpretation.
Text and commentary
Begin with a short passage, note its terms, then compare an identified commentary and relevant Futūḥāt passages. Distinguish Ibn al-ʿArabī’s words from the commentator’s additions; compilations of several commentaries can obscure the boundary. The Akbarian tradition introduces the interpreters, while Imagination follows one conceptual thread.
Sources and further reading
The source language appears beside each link. External books and sources may remain in their original languages.
- فصوص الحكم: فهرس النص العربية
- فصوص الحكم: خطبة الكتاب العربية
- الفص اليوسفي: الحكمة النورية العربية