The universal tree and the four birds : Treatise on unification (al-Ittiḥād al-kawnī)

Through the story of the universal tree, representing the complete human being, and the four birds, representing the four essential aspects of existence, Ibn 'Arabi explains his teaching on the nature and meaning of union with God. Providing an excellent initiation into the often complex works of Ibn 'Arabi, this brief, delightful tale is the first English translation of an important, early work, complete with Arabic text, commentary, and notes. Contents ......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 9 Of the Tree and its Four Birds, by Rafi Zabor......Page 10 Biography of Ibn 'Arabi'......Page 18 Overview......Page 25 Stylistic Considerations......Page 27 Treatise on Unification......Page 30 Dedication......Page 35 Discourse of the Universal Tree......Page 44 Discourse of the Ringdove......Page 47 Discourse of the Royal Eagle......Page 51 Discourse of the Strange 'Anqå'......Page 55 Discourse of the Jet-Black Crow......Page 56 The Title......Page 62 The Proemial Poems......Page 70 The Dedicatee......Page 72 The Fourth Poem......Page 86 Meetings in the Barzakh......Page 87 Soliloquies of the Universal Tree and the Four Birds......Page 89 Cosmic Marriage and the Genealogy of the Birds......Page 112 Appendix: The Edition of the Text......Page 120 Bibliography......Page 124 Index of Qur¤anic Citations......Page 132 Index of Names and Terms......Page 134 Arabic text......Page 138 Contents 8 Acknowledgements 9 Of the Tree and its Four Birds, by Rafi Zabor 10 Biography of Ibn 'Arabi' 18 Introduction 25 Overview 25 Stylistic Considerations 27 Treatise on Unification 30 Dedication 35 Discourse of the Universal Tree 44 Discourse of the Ringdove 47 Discourse of the Royal Eagle 51 Discourse of the Strange 'Anqå' 55 Discourse of the Jet-Black Crow 56 Commentary 62 The Title 62 The Proemial Poems 70 The Dedicatee 72 The Fourth Poem 86 Meetings in the Barzakh 87 Soliloquies of the Universal Tree and the Four Birds 89 Cosmic Marriage and the Genealogy of the Birds 112 Appendix: The Edition of the Text 120 Bibliography 124 Index of Qur¤anic Citations 132 Index of Names and Terms 134 Arabic text 138 Mu·hyiddīn Ibin ʻarabī ; Introduction, Translation And Commentary, Angela Jaffray. Published In Association With The Muhyiddin Ibn ʻarab Society. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. A Translation Into English From Arabic; Introduction And Commentary In English.