A Prayer for Spiritual Elevation and Protection [Paperback]

Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi (Author), Suha Taji-Farouki (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2007

Widely used for centuries in Sufi circles, the prayer known as "The Most Elevated Cycle" (al-Dawr al-a’la) or "The Prayer of Protection" (Hizb al-wiqaya), written by the great Sufi master Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi, has never before been available in English. This book provides a lucid English translation and an edited Arabic text of this beautiful and powerful prayer. It includes a transliteration for those unable to read Arabic, who wish to recite the prayer in the original language. Showing the importance of Ibn ‘Arabi’s devotional teaching, the book explores the prayer’s contemporary life, properties and historical transmission. It gives full details of generations of well-known scholars and Sufi masters who have transmitted the prayer, providing an intimate and fascinating insight into Islamic history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The importance of having a stable text with full vocalisation based upon the best manuscripts is evident. But the author's careful study of the chains of transmission and the detailed information about the recitation of the prayer in the contemporary world are also of the highest interest."  —Professor Michel Chodkiewicz

About the Author

Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi was a Sufi master. Suha Taji-Farouki is Senior Lecturer in Modern Islam at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, the University of Exeter, and Research Associate at The Institute of Ismaili Studies (London). She has written extensively on modern Islamic thought, including (ed.) Islamic Thought in the Twentieth Century and Modern Muslim Intellectuals and the Qur'an.

Product Details

• Paperback: 150 pages
• Publisher: Anqa Publishing (June 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0953451305
• ISBN-13: 978-0953451302
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #555,715 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #87 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Islam > Theology

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Unique Exposition for such a Mystical Piece, July 6, 2008

By 

Bakr Gh Mustafa (UAE) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Prayer for Spiritual Elevation and Protection (Paperback)

This Book provided me with a very interesting background historical knowledge about the relevant sweet prayer which I used to read myself.

The First time I came accross this prayer was through an Ottoman Volume "Majmou'at Al Ahzab - Ibn Arabi"

I am not aware of any other english translation than this one, I think it bring the english reader a honey taste of such a holy prayer, whether Christian, Jewish or Muslim, the Glorious meanings are those that would sparkle around a saint.

This is only a glimpse of Dr. Maximus. (Ibn Arabi)

There is a non-copyrighted audio reading of this prayer in Arabic in the following public Link

[...]

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent piece of scholarship, July 5, 2011

By 

Rumi Fan (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Prayer for Spiritual Elevation and Protection (Paperback)

Suha Taji-Farouki is to be highly commended for this excellent translation of an important work of Ibn Arabi. Not only is this an excellent translation of a highly prized supplication of a well known sufi prayer book, it also provides in depth and comprehensive footnotes of the history, use and authenticity of the famous Arabic text. The footnotes are useful in understanding the purpose of these specialized prayer book in the Islamic tradition and more particularly within the sufi tradition. Also useful is a transliteration of the Arabic text alongside the translation.