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<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEliza Tasbihi is a Specialised Cataloguing Editor of Islamic Manuscripts at McGill\u2019s Rare Books and Special Collections. She completed her M.A. in Islamic Studies from McGill University and her Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Concordia University. Her main areas of research are classical Islam, classical Persian literature, Ottoman studies and Ottoman Sufi literature, and Sufism and Sufi literature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In her recent article, Tasbihi studies the Mystical knowledge of Heydar Amuli in his work the Text of the Text <\/em>(Nass al-nusus<\/em>) by highlighting his cosmographical diagrams, which she believes is the most important part of his work. She also explores the influence of Ibn Arabi\u2019s thought upon Amuli, as well as areas where their doctrine differed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The paper is divided into several sections with the first providing a brief biography of Amuli, who was a Shi’ite mystic and a Sufi philosopher from 14th<\/sup> century, followed by Ibn Arabi\u2019s influence on Amuli\u2019s thought and work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main section discusses the overall importance of circle shapes (dawai\u2019r) in Islamic cosmology, with the application in cosmographical diagrams in Amuli\u2019s work of Nass al-nusus<\/em>. Here Tasbihi discusses the implication of circle shapes (dawai\u2019r) in Amuli\u2019s diagram as an indication of the \u201cscience of balance and its correspondence between the spiritual and corporeal worlds\u201d and that dawair brings balance to the world. Tasbihi goes on to discuss how Amuli used circular forms not only to explain difficult esoteric concepts, but also to refer to specific theological topics in his work, such as prophethood, Imamhood, \u201cspiritual friends of God\u201d (awliya) and Prophet\u2019s ascension.\u201d She notes that, \u201cthe diagrams are employed as clear and efficient methods of presenting cosmological ideas\u201d, in addition to the inter-relations that connect these diagrams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tasbihi consulted four manuscripts to study and clarify Amuli\u2019s argument and details of the diagrams. Diagrams numbered 1, 7-11 are drawn from Amuli\u2019s commentary on Ibn Arabi\u2019s Fusus al-hikam<\/em>. She also highlights Amuli\u2019s interpretation of the presence of the number 19 represented by its sacredness and by its relation to the awliya<\/em>. The number 19 is said to resemble the 19 letters of the basmala<\/em>, which opens all but one Quranic Sura. Further, the number 19 is present within the awliya (the chain of prophets and their spiritual representatives\/spiritual friends of God) consisting of 7 prophets and the 12 Imams who spiritually received divine knowledge. Amuli\u2019s dedicates one diagram to the 12 Imams, which emphasizes how Amuli\u2019s Shi\u2019a doctrine influenced his understanding of Ibn Arabi\u2019s Sunni text of the Fusus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tasbihi summaries by arguing that, on the one hand Amuli\u2019s thoughts were influenced by Ibn Arabi, as in his definition of the perfect man (Insan Kamil) and divine knowledge, and on the other hand Amuli borrowed Ibn Arabi\u2019s cosmological concepts in order to develop his \u201cesoteric-allegorical aspects of Shi\u2019a theology\u201d. Therefore, she concludes that Amuli\u2019s Text of the Text<\/em> (Nass al-nusus<\/em>) is a Shi\u2019a interpretation of Ibn Arabi\u2019s Fusus al-hikam<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Access the Tasbihi\u2019s article at McGill library here: https:\/\/mcgill.on.worldcat.org\/v2\/oclc\/607401882<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n To know more about Dr. Eliza Tasbihi and her works please click here: https:\/\/independent.academia.edu\/ElizaTasbihi<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ibn Arabi\u2019s \u0641\u0635\u0648\u0635 \u0627\u0644\u062d\u0643\u0645 \/\u200f Fu\u1e63\u016b\u1e63 al-\u1e25ikam can be found here: https:\/\/mcgill.on.worldcat.org\/v2\/oclc\/122782398<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This blog post highlights a recently published article by our colleague, Dr. Eliza Tasbihi: \u201cVisionary Perceptions through Cosmographical Diagrams\u201d, in the Journal of the Muhyiddin Ibn \u02bfArabi Society, 2021. Eliza Tasbihi is a Specialised Cataloguing Editor of Islamic Manuscripts at … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.library.mcgill.ca\/islamicstudieslibrary\/files\/2021\/09\/diagram-9-MS-Carullah-Efendi-1033-f56a.ppm_.png\")
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Tasbihi, Eliza. (2021). Visionary Perceptions through Cosmographical Diagrams : Mystical Knowledge from \u1e24aydar \u0100mul\u012b\u2019s (d.787\/1385) Na\u1e63\u1e63 al-nu\u1e63\u016b\u1e63 f\u012b shar\u1e25 Fu\u1e63\u016b\u1e63 al-\u1e25ikam. 69. 31-83.
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Tasbihi, Eliza. (2021). Visionary Perceptions through Cosmographical Diagrams : Mystical Knowledge from \u1e24aydar \u0100mul\u012b\u2019s (d.787\/1385) Na\u1e63\u1e63 al-nu\u1e63\u016b\u1e63 f\u012b shar\u1e25 Fu\u1e63\u016b\u1e63 al-\u1e25ikam. 69. 31-83<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n