The Bezels of Wisdom
Fusus al-Hikam (Arabic: فصوص الحکم, literally The Bezels of Wisdom), also known by the English title The Wisdom of the Prophets, is the work of the Andalusian mystic and philosopher Ibn Arabi (1165–1240). The book presents a complex metaphysical system through a series of chapters, each dedicated to a different prophet, from Adam to Muhammad. Each chapter expounds on a specific divine Name and Attribute, revealing a particular facet of universal wisdom through the prophetic narrative. Ibn al-Arabi himself stated in his autobiographical works that the book was dictated to him by the Prophet Muhammad in a dream, a common belief among his followers. Ibn Arabi's seminal work, Fusus al-Hikam, has inspired over a hundred commentaries, with key ones provided by his student Sadr al-Din al-Qunawi and later scholars like Abd al-Razzaq Kāshānī and Dawūd al-Qayṣarī. Notable works include Ibn Arabi's own summary, Jami's commentary on it, and several significant Persian commentaries. These commentaries aim to elucidate the profound mystical and philosophical concepts within Fusus al-Hikam.
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