Ibn ‘Arabi and the Journey Within
February 22, 2020 (2–5pm)
The October Gallery, 24 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AL
A seminar and interactive discussion with Rim Feriani exploring the meaning of ‘the journey’ in passages from selected works by Ibn ‘Arabi.
Event Description
The word Sufism, which translates in Arabic as tasawwuf, is closely interlinked with the meaning of “the way” or “the path.” A Sufi in this sense is someone who follows an inner path and embarks on a spiritual journey. In his book, Introduction to Sufism: The Inner Path of Islam, Eric Geoffroy (2010: 8) explains how the Sufi “aspirant follows an inward journey that must lead him to climb the ladder of the universal hierarchy of Being”.
In the works of Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi, the concept of the journey and its symbolic expressions occupy a central position. In this seminar we aim to explore the meaning of the journey in passages from Journey to the Lord of Power and The Secrets of Voyaging. There will be an interactive discussion of these texts – previous study experience of Ibn ʿArabi’s work isn’t required.
Facilitator
Rim Feriani is a Lecturer in Arabic language at King’s College, London. She has previously taught Arabic language and cultural studies at the University of Westminster where she completed her doctoral studies in 2016. Her main research interests are Sufi philosophy and Islamic tradition, Maghrebian and Postcolonial literatures, and modern philosophical hermeneutics. Her publications include: ‘Sufi Symbols of the Sacred in L’Enfant de sable’ in: The Maghreb Review and ‘Reading Signs and Symbols with Abdelkhébir Khatibi: From the Body to the Text’ in: Abdelkébir Khatibi: Postcolonialism, Transnationalism and Culture in the Maghreb and Beyond.
Booking & Fees
Cost: £8 + £1.54 registration fee from Eventbrite
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Entry by ticket – refreshments provided
Enquiries:
Michael Cohen at london@beshara.org or 020 8300 7928
