The Four Pillars of Spiritual Transformation

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The Four Pillars of Spiritual Transformation,
Hilyat al-Abdal,
*[A5] Paperback - 80 pages,
by Muhiy'ud-Din Ibn al-Arabi,
Translated by Stephen Hirtenstein,
Published by Anqa Publishing,

Currently Out of Stock & Unavailable,

Description :

This is the first English translation of Ibn 'Arabi’s Hilyat al-abdal, a short work which he wrote in the space of an hour during his Meccan period as something that would be "of assistance for those on the Path to true happiness." Beginning with an anecdote concerning one of his Andalusian companions, Ibn 'Arabi proceeds to explain the exterior qualities of the spiritually transformed (abdal). He particularly focuses on the four essential prerequisites of spiritual discipline: silence, seclusion, hunger and vigilance, describing how these appear among both aspirants and the spiritually realised.

            '' For centuries one of Ibn ‘Arabi’s most accessible and widely
              studied works, the Hilyat al-Abdal highlights the practical
              foundation of spiritual discipline underlying all of his metaphysical
              and theological writings. At the same time, Stephen Hirtenstein’s
              masterful introduction shows how deeper reflection on those
              spiritual practices and their fruits gradually illuminates many of
              the Shaykh’s most characteristic teachings.'' _{---Prof. James Morris},

One of the most popular of his short works, the Hilyat al-Abdal was much copied, and this book includes the first critical edition of the text based on the best manuscripts, including one written in Malatya during the author's lifetime. In addition, it provides a substantial introduction on the abdal saints, and a translation of Chapter 53 from the Futuhat al-Makkiyya, which deals with the same subject-matter.

Table of Contents :

---Acknowledgements,

---Introduction,
------The way of the Lord and the way of the soul,
------The writing of the Hilyat al-Abdal,
------The Spiritually Transformed Saints (abdal),
------The abdal according to Ibn 'Arabi,
------Ibn 'Arabi's meeting with the abdal,
------The title Hilyat al-Abdal,
------The structure of the Hilyat al-Abdal,
------The four pillars of knowledge.

The Adornment of the Spiritually Transformed and those Spiritual Knowledges and States that Manifest from It,
---Translation of the Hilyat al-Abdal,
------Silence,
------Seclusion,
------Hunger,
------Vigilance.

---Appendix A :
----Translation of Chapter 53 from al-Futuhat al-Makkiya,
------Seclusion,
------Silence,
------Hunger,
------Vigilance.

---Appendix B :
----Arabic text and manuscripts,

---Bibliography,
---Index of names and terms.

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