The Self-Disclosure of God

The Self-Disclosure of God presents Ibn al-Arabi's teachings on divine manifestation and metaphysics through translations and analysis of his magnum opus, al-Futuhat al-Makkiyya. William C. Chittick translates and interprets key passages from this complex Arabic text, making Ibn al-Arabi's ideas accessible to English readers. The book examines core concepts in Islamic theology including the nature of God, divine names, creation, and the relationship between the Creator and created beings. Through systematic organization of translated excerpts and commentary, Chittick provides a framework for understanding Ibn al-Arabi's metaphysical worldview. Each chapter focuses on specific theological and philosophical themes, supported by translations from the original Arabic text. The work includes detailed notes, a glossary of technical terms, and extensive citations that place the teachings in their historical and intellectual context. This scholarly work illuminates the sophisticated metaphysical system of one of Islam's most influential thinkers, while exploring universal questions about the nature of reality and human existence. The translations and commentary reveal the depth and complexity of Islamic intellectual tradition.

Readers describe this as a dense academic text requiring significant background knowledge of Islamic mysticism and Ibn 'Arabi's works. Multiple reviewers note it works best as a reference book rather than a cover-to-cover read. Likes: - Thorough translation and analysis of complex Arabic terminology - Extensive citations and sourcing - Clear organization by topic - Useful index for reference Dislikes: - Too technical for newcomers to the subject - Assumes familiarity with Arabic and Islamic concepts - Limited broader context or introductory material Ratings: Goodreads: 4.6/5 (14 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (8 ratings) One reader on Goodreads noted: "Not for beginners but invaluable for serious students." An Amazon reviewer stated: "The technical vocabulary and dense writing make this challenging but rewarding for those willing to invest the time." The book has limited reviews online, likely due to its specialized academic nature.

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🔹 William C. Chittick spent several years studying in Iran before the 1979 revolution, where he worked directly with traditional Islamic scholars and manuscripts, giving him rare firsthand access to classical Sufi texts. 🔹 The book examines the works of Ibn al-'Arabi, a 13th-century Sufi mystic whose writings were so influential he became known as "The Greatest Master" (al-Shaykh al-Akbar) in the Islamic world. 🔹 The Self-Disclosure of God focuses on Ibn al-'Arabi's magnum opus "al-Futuhat al-Makkiyya" (The Meccan Openings), a massive work of 37 volumes that took him 30 years to complete. 🔹 Many of the translations in this book were the first time these particular passages from Ibn al-'Arabi's works had ever been rendered into English, making previously inaccessible Islamic mystical concepts available to Western readers. 🔹 The concept of "self-disclosure" (tajalli) in the book's title refers to the Sufi belief that God is constantly revealing Himself through all of creation, and everything in existence is a sign (ayah) pointing to divine reality.