The Ringstones of Wisdom: the Fusus al-Hikam
By  Ibn al-Arabi;
Translated By Caner Dagli
Publisher: Great Books of the Islamic World, Kazi Publications (August 2004)
Pages: 352 Binding: Paperback

Together with al-Futuhat al-Makkiyyah (The Meccan Openings) this is Ibn al-Arabi’s most famous work and the one that has been the most frequently commented upon by later Sufis. This single volume, with each chapter devoted to the wisdom associated with the inner reality of a prophet, provides a synthesis of his central metaphysical, cosmological, and spiritual doctrines.

The Ringstones of Wisdom (Fusus al-hikam) is one of the most influential and controversial books of Islamic civilization. This relatively brief but far-reaching text covers topics such as creation, prayer, the relationship of God with the world, and the interpretation of dreams. Its author, the thirteenth century Andalusian mystic philosopher Ibn al-Arabi, remains a towering figure both in the intellectual and spiritual life of the Muslim world.

Along with this entirely new translation, Caner Dagli, provides readers with a detailed introduction and running commentary almost equal in length to the text itself. These glosses draw from the centuries-old tradition of commentary upon the Fusus, and are presented in unencumbered philosophical language and supplemented with new material. They explain Ibn al-Arabi's metaphysical ideas, his technical vocabulary, and even the frequently difficult structure of his prose and poetry. As a precise and technically consistent translation of a notoriously difficult work, The Ringstones of Wisdom is an important addition to the study of Sufism and Islamic philosophy. Scholars in the field will find new insights into Ibn al-Arabi's technical terms and aspects of the text which previously have gone unstudied. Those without a previous knowledge of Sufism or Islam will find that the commentary and the clarity of the translation make the book accessible to non-specialists as well.

About the translator Caner K. Dagli is a doctoral candidate in Princeton University's Department of Near Eastern Studies. He holds a B.A. from Cornell University and an M.A. from George Washington University. His scholarly interests include Sufism, Islamic philosophy in the West, religion and science, and the writings of the seventeenth century Persian philosopher Mulla Sadra, fields in which he has published articles.