Sufism and the Perfect Human

Studying the history of the notion of the âPerfect Humanâ (al-insÄn al-kÄmil) this book investigates a key idea in the history of Sufism. First discussed by Ibn âArabÄ and later treated in greater depth by al-JÄlÄ the idea left its mark on later Islamic mystical metaphysical and political thought from North Africa to Southeast Asia up until modern times. The research tells the story of the development of that idea from Ibn âArabÄ to al-JÄlÄ and beyond. It does so through a thematic study based on close reading of primary sources in Arabic and Persian of the key elements of the idea including the idea that the Perfect Human is a locus of divine manifestation (maáhar) the concept of the âPoleâ (quáb) and the âMuhammadan Realityâ (al-áaqÄqah al-Muhammadiyyah) and the identity of the Perfect Human. By setting the work of al-JÄlÄ against the background of earlier Ibn âArabian treatments of the idea it demonstrates that al-JÄlÄ took the idea of the Perfect Human in several new directions with major consequences for how the Prophet Muhammad â the archetypal Perfect Human â was viewed in later Islamic thought. Introducing readers to the key Sufi idea of the Perfect Human (al-insÄn al-kÄmil) this volume will be of interest to scholars and students interested in Sufism Islam religion and philosophy. . Language: English