Ibn Sīnā and Mysticism - Remarks and Admonitions: Part Four

Few figures have been of such enduring importance as Ibn Sina also known as Avicenna, (980-1037 AD), the great Persian philosopher and physician of the Abassid period. This work is a study of the fourth part of Ibn Sina's late book "al-Isharat wat Tanbihat", "Remarks and Admonitions". The present volume includes an introduction, discussing the nature of the fourth part of "al-Isharat" and the procedures followed in analyzing and translating it; a lengthy analysis of Ibn Sinal's ideals on the three main topics in this part of "al-Isharat" (the nature of happiness, the stations of the knowers, and the signs manifested by the knowers); and a translation of this part. The work shows that, to Ibn Sina, knowledge of the eternal aspects of the universe, primarily of God, is the highest human objective and the only thing that secures human happiness or heavenly existence. While no permanent knowledge of this kind is possible for a human being on earth, signs of its temporary acquisition are evidenced in many ways, one of which is possesion of powers that a person who does not know the secrets of the universe may consider extraordinary. Although, the focus of this volume is on the fourth part of "al-Isharat", references are made to some of Ibn Sina's other writings by way of clarifying certain points and placing this part of "al-Isharat" in the context of the Ibn Sina's general philosophy.