The Beloved's face at the House
طوافχορείαṭawāf · choreia: circumambulation; the round dance
I
Ibn ʿArabī, al-Futūḥāt al-makkiyya ¶ 96
At the House the form he loved stretches out its right hand; each changes form for the other through the circuits. AI
Read it in the reader →On: Futūḥāt, ch. 1 ¶96 (the meeting with the youth runs from ¶72).
II
Ibn ʿArabī, al-Futūḥāt al-makkiyya ¶ 74
Those who hold to the straight path are never seen to swerve from circling His Essence. AI
Read it in the reader →On: Futūḥāt, ch. 1 ¶74.
III
Ibn ʿArabī, Tarjumān al-ashwāq ¶ 21
'My heart is their Muḥaṣṣab … my soul their place of sacrifice': the pilgrimage rites moved inside the lover. AI
Read it in the reader →On: Tarjumān al-ashwāq, couplet 21 (Nicholson 1911).
IV
Ibn ʿArabī, Tarjumān al-ashwāq ¶ 44
Maidens crowd him as he touches the Stone and warn that the soul's death lies in glances. AI
Read it in the reader →On: Tarjumān al-ashwāq, couplets 44–45.
V
Figure: the heart as the Kaʿba
Chapter 72: passing thoughts circle the heart like pilgrims round the House. AI
See the figure →On: Futūḥāt ch. 72 (OpenITI 1:795–796).
VI
Plotinus, Ennead VI.9.8
Plotinus's choir circling its leader: we always move round the One, but only when we look to it do we dance truly. AI
Read it in the reader →On: Ennead VI.9.8, Volkmann's Greek (First1KGreek).
VII
Lyrics of Ascent: Ibn ʿArabī, Tarjumān XI
The next poem after our I–X: the heart that becomes a Kaʿba and 'the religion of love', in Sperl's translation. AI
Read it at the source ↗On: lyrics-of-ascent.net; translation © Stefan Sperl, so linked, not shown.