Unraveling Ibn Sabʿīn’s Thought: A Study of Verified and Unverified Texts
Journal of Posthumanism April 22, 2025 Mahmoud Na’amneh, Jamal Assadi, Khaled Sindawi
Abd al-Ḥaqq Ibn Sabʿīn al-Andalusī (1217–1269 CE) was a major figure in medieval Islamic Ṣūfism whose philosophical-mystical approach diverged from mainstream traditions, sparking controversy. His thought emphasized waḥdat al-muṭlaqah (absolute unity), a doctrine extending beyond the more familiar waḥdat al-wujūd (unity of being). This study examines his verified and unverified manuscripts, his use of argumentation and intuition, his engagement with Greek philosophy, and his critiques of religious orthodoxy. It also investigates lost manuscripts attributed to him and the influence of his "Sabʿīnian Additions" on later Ṣūfī thought in the Maghreb and Ottoman traditions. The research situates Ibn Sabʿīn as both a radical innovator and a controversial mystic within medieval Islamic intellectual history.