Knowing God: Ibn Arabi and Abd al-Razzaq al-Qashani's Metaphysics of the Divine

Ismail Lala

Hardback

9789004400511

Can we know God or does he reside beyond our ken? In this work, Ismail Lala conducts a forensic analysis of the nature of God and His interaction with creation. Looking mainly at the exegetical works of the influential mystic, Muhyi al-Din ibn Arabi (d. 638/1240), and one of his chief disseminators, Abd al-Razzaq al-Qashani (d. 736/1335?), Lala employs the term huwiyya, literally “He-ness,” as an aperture into the metaphysical worldview of both mystics. Does Al-Qashani agree with Ibn Arabi’s conception of God? Does he agree with Ibn Arabi on how God relates to us and how we relate to Him? Or is this where Sufi master and his disciple part ways?