Philosophical Sufism II: The School of Ibn al-Arabi
Description
A 6-Week Online Course
This second course continues and deepens the study of philosophical Sufism through the teachings of Ibn al-ʿArabī, building directly on the foundations established in Part I. Drawing on the textbook Philosophical Sufism: An Introduction to the School of Ibn al-ʿArabī, the course moves from the metaphysical and cosmological groundwork into the human, prophetic, and soteriological dimensions of the Akbarian tradition, showing how knowledge of reality culminates in spiritual realization.
Over six weeks, students proceed sequentially through the second half of the text, beginning with the epistemology of unveiling (kashf) and advancing toward the human reality, the Perfect Human (al-insān al-kāmil), the relationship between prophecy (nubuwwa) and sainthood (walāya), the disciplined path of realization, and the metaphysics of return (maʿād). The course clarifies how these themes form an integrated vision in which ontology, spiritual psychology, and scriptural horizons converge.
Complex ideas are explained with clarity and care, making the course accessible to non-specialists while maintaining intellectual rigor and conceptual precision. Students will refine their grasp of key terminology, trace the internal coherence of Ibn al-ʿArabī’s metaphysics, and learn how the Akbarian worldview frames spiritual life as the progressive deepening of knowledge, character, and presence.
This course is designed for students who have completed Philosophical Sufism I or who already possess familiarity with the foundational concepts of the tradition. Through structured lessons, close reading, and guided commentary, students will develop a stronger command of Ibn al-ʿArabī’s core teachings and the intellectual legacy of the school that emerged from them.
Whether you are continuing from Part I or entering with prior preparation, this course offers a thoughtful, academically grounded, and spiritually serious engagement with the culminating themes of philosophical Sufism, where metaphysical insight becomes a framework for transformation, prophecy, and ultimate return to the Real.
Overview
Week 1 — Unveiling and Spiritual Epistemology
Topics: Unveiling (kashf) and inner perception, symbolic knowledge, limits of discursive reasoning, hierarchy of knowing, unveiling and verification
Reading: Chapter 7, Unveiling
Week 2 — The Human Reality
Topics: The human being as microcosm, spirit (rūḥ), heart (qalb), soul (nafs), intellect (ʿaql), the comprehensive human form
Reading: Chapter 8, The Human Reality
Week 3 — The Perfect Human
Topics: The Perfect Human (al-insān al-kāmil), manifestation of the divine names, vicegerency (khilāfa), the Muhammadan Reality, metaphysical centrality of the human being
Reading: Chapter 9, The Perfect Human
Week 4 — Prophecy and Sainthood
Topics: Prophecy (nubuwwa) and sainthood (walāya), seal of prophecy and seal of sainthood, spiritual hierarchy, relationship between law and realization
Reading: Chapter 10, Prophecy and Sainthood
Week 5 — The Path and Realization
Topics: Spiritual discipline, transformation of the soul, annihilation (fanāʾ) and subsistence (baqāʾ), tasting (dhawq), integration of knowledge and being
Reading: Chapter 11, The Path and Realization
Week 6 — Return and Fulfillment
Topics: The return (maʿād), resurrection as unveiling, paradise and hell as ontological states, ultimate proximity to the Real
Reading: Chapter 12, Return and Fulfillment
Texts
Primary textbook: Ali, Mukhtar H. Philosophical Sufism: An Introduction to the School of Ibn al-ʿArabī. London: Routledge, 2023.
Prerequisites
No prior background in Sufism, Islamic studies, philosophy, or Arabic is required. The course is designed for beginners while maintaining intellectual rigor and conceptual precision.
Completion of Philosophical Sufism Iis strongly recommended.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Identify the core principles of philosophical Sufism
Understand the central concepts of Ibn al-ʿArabī’s thought and his intellectual legacy
Explain how metaphysics, cosmology, and spirituality are integrated within this tradition
Engage primary ideas of Sufi philosophy with clarity and confidence
Readings
Assigned readings are drawn primarily from the course textbook and are to be completed prior to each class session. Reading selections are calibrated to support comprehension and guided discussion rather than technical specialization.
Class Structure
Each class meets for ninety minutes, with approximately fifty minutes devoted to structured lecture and forty minutes to discussion and questions. Lectures are designed to build progressively, ensuring continuity and conceptual grounding across the eight-week course.
Q&A Protocol
Students may submit questions during class via Zoom’s chat function or “raise hand” feature. Questions may be addressed during the lecture when appropriate or reserved for the discussion portion of the session.
Next course in the series…
Course Details
Instructor: Professor Mukhtar Ali
Dates: June 1 - July 6
(6 Weeks)
Day: Monday
Time: 12pm - 1:30 pm EST
Location: Online
Tuition: $225
How to Register
To enroll, click the Register button below and complete the online checkout process. Once registration is confirmed, you will receive a confirmation email with access details and course information.