The Critical Editing of Sufi Manuscripts Al-Futūḥāt al-Makkiyya by Muḥyī al-Dīn Ibn ʿArabī as a Case Study

Abstract

Sufi manuscripts constitute a rich intellectual and cultural heritage within the Arab-Islamic tradition. Preserving them depends primarily on their critical editing and publication. The critical editing of Sufi manuscripts is a significant scholarly endeavor that is no less important than authorship itself, as it plays a vital role in safeguarding our cultural heritage. Since Sufism has played a pivotal role in Islamic civilization and has profoundly contributed to the spiritual and intellectual development of human beings, its manuscripts require rigorous critical editing at both the manuscript and textual levels. Such work is essential for detecting interpolation, forgery, and textual corruption, as well as for establishing the authentic authorship of these works. Among the most important Sufi texts is Al-Futūḥāt al-Makkiyya by Muḥyī al-Dīn Ibn ʿArabī, one of the most extensive works on Sufism. It has been critically edited by several distinguished scholars, including Ibrahim Madkour, Abdel Aziz Sultan, and Othman Yahia. The work has long suffered from misunderstanding, not only through accusations directed at its author but also through the publication of inaccurate editions resulting from the complexity of its symbolic language. Therefore, the critical editing of manuscripts represents a rigorous scholarly methodology, commonly referred to as the "culture of manuscripts," dedicated to preserving and transmitting authentic intellectual heritage.