The Universal Tree and the Four Birds by Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi (Author)

📘 Title: The Universal Tree and the Four Birds
✍️ Author: Muhyiddin Ibn ʿArabi
📝 Translator: Angela Jaffray
📦 Quality: A+

🔹 Introduction:
The Universal Tree and the Four Birds (al-Ittihād al-Kawnī) is an early mystical treatise by the renowned Sufi master Muhyiddin Ibn ʿArabi. This work employs poetic allegory to explore the journey of the soul towards divine union. The "Universal Tree" symbolizes the complete human being, while the four birds represent distinct aspects of existence: the Ringdove (spiritual aspiration), the Royal Eagle (intellect), the Strange ʿAnqāʾ (imagination), and the Jet-Black Crow (sensory perception). Through their dialogues, Ibn ʿArabi elucidates the path to unification with the Divine.

🔑 Key Points:

1. Allegorical Framework: Utilizes the metaphors of a tree and birds to represent facets of the human soul and its quest for spiritual realization.

2. Comprehensive Edition: This edition includes the original Arabic text, an English translation, and extensive commentary by Angela Jaffray, providing valuable insights into Ibn ʿArabi's teachings.

3. Educational Utility: Serves as an accessible introduction to Ibn ʿArabi's complex thought, making it suitable for both individual study and academic settings.