Sufi Narratives of Intimacy: Ibn 'Arabī, Gender, and Sexuality

Appendix: Selected Poems from the Dīwān Ibn ʿArabī

Appendix Selected Poems from the Dīwān Ibn ʿArabī In a set of poems that inaugurate the Dīwān (pp. 54–60), Ibn ʿArabī pays tribute to some of his female disciples. Translations of some of these poems appear in chapters 3 and 4. To my knowledge, the poems in this appendix have not previously been translated and published. I adorned my daughter, Dunyā, With the garment of faith and reverence. Perchance I will see her grow by what God had compelled. Surely this world of yours, Is an abode of trials and tribulation If you drink the water of life to quench your thirst. Instead, if you merely breathe it in, It will be more joyous and nourishing, Truly slaking your thirst. I wrapped Siti al-­ ʿAysh in the Same khirqa of God’s friends Which the people of piety and bounty Had enveloped me within. The one who wears The honorable khirqa of God’s friends Is beyond reproach, On condition that she wears it In the manner of the virtuous ones. Her station is one that 230 Appendix Reaps felicity, success, and prosperity in all that she seeks. We invested our mantle In the daughter of Zakī al-­ Dīn. After a refining discipleship Cultivated in divinity She burnished her tributaries And sanctified her essence from all uncertainty. Suffused with knowledge, you its quintessence Derived from a sincere teacher and father So let the daughter bestow our mantle, Spreading his will, Having reached the divine names And an exalted lineage, To all humans and jinns who in discipleship Follow the teachings in my books. Zumurrud requested to wear the khirqa. After I responded to her appeal, she wore it. Then she went to Egypt with her daughter Desiring to satisfy her need. After she was gratified, she deserted the khirqa seeking the land of Jillaq [Damascus] In a state of abasement. On her return, her state Was characterized by misconduct. She thought herself too proud [to return] Since she had indulged her whims. Jamīlah is unparalleled. Adorned by an exalted garment I bestowed on her a momentous khirqa. When she turned to me as her trustee Appendix 231 Since accompanying us [on the path], She has cultivated the good [qualities]. Now her actions are all beautiful. If truth be told, it is not my teaching That is the catalyst. Since I am not in reality, the responder [to the inner needs] Truly my Lord is the caretaker. I bestowed upon my daughter, Safarī A khirqa possessed by the people of refinement [adab]. I clothed her in a robe of piety Comprised of every pleasing virtue. “Oh, daughter!” I said, “Follow my path and my legal school [madhhab]. My way is the Sharīʿa of the Arab Hashemite prophet.” Thus the garment that I bestowed on her Encompasses [the knowledge] of every noble teacher. I say this and I am Muḥammad Ibn al-­ ʿArabī. When you, the ultimate point of my pain, And you, the best of people in meaning and form, Adopted my good qualities And you, the best of people in meaning and in form And her1 qualities had already possessed my heart, and if you wanted to verify that In itself it would be a piece of news. From the most illumined of garments I wrapped her in the raiment of piety, That raised her above gender. She received from the very robes of Al-­ Khidr All beautiful qualities and character [adab] As well as the morals embedded In the verses and chapters of the Qurʾān. The pledge between us is that She does not reveal [these gifts] to any other person. This will allow her growth in sincerity and singular dedication And protect her from harm. This page intentionally left blank ...