The title Mawaqi’ al-Nujum wa-Matali’ Ahillah al-Asrar wa-l-Ulum translates roughly to: The Positions of the Stars and the Rising Places of the Crescents of Secrets and Sciences .
Written by the Andalusian Sufi master (Shaykh al-Akbar) in 595 AH (1199 CE) during a period of just eleven days in Almeria, this work is considered one of his most vital practical guides for spiritual seekers.
Why it matters
The text is divided into sections that mirror the logical progression of Islamic law, starting with the pillars of Islam and moving toward broader societal obligations. mawaqi al-nujum english pdf
Because this title can refer to a few different historical texts (most famously a 15th-century legal text by Jamal al-Din al-Tunisi, or poetically to the celestial settings mentioned in the Quran), and because a direct, official English translation PDF is not widely available in the public domain, I have created a below.
: The first level, focusing on outward behavior and the five fundamental obligations of the faith.
Mawaqi‘ al-Nujum (The Positions of the Stars) is one of the most profound and early works of the renowned Sufi master, Ibn ‘Arabi. Often regarded as a comprehensive guide to spiritual methodology and metaphysical cosmology, it remains a cornerstone text for students of Islamic mysticism. Because this title can refer to a few
For those interested in exploring the original text in Arabic, high-quality PDFs are available through the Ibn al-Arabi Foundation .
Exploring Ibn Arabi’s Mawaqi' al-Nujum : A Guide to the English PDF and Spiritual Teachings
In his Futuhat al-Makkiyya (The Meccan Revelations), Ibn Arabi devotes specific chapters to Mawaqi al-Nujum . Here, the stars are not just physical bodies; they are fixed loci of divine manifestation. Each "position" corresponds to a letter of the Arabic alphabet, a Prophet, and a specific spiritual state. Often regarded as a comprehensive guide to spiritual
While a full, widely-circulated English translation of the entire text is rare compared to his other works (like the Meccan Illuminations ), several scholarly resources provide detailed analysis and excerpts:
The Mawaqi al-Nujum is the work of (1165-1240 CE), one of the most influential and controversial figures in the history of Islamic thought. Born in Murcia, Spain (al-Andalus), his vast literary output includes over 400 extant works, with his magnum opus, Al-Futuhat al-Makkiyya (The Meccan Illuminations), spanning thousands of pages.