Sources of Ibn Masarra’s Sufi experience

Abstract

The fate of Ibn Masarra's Sufi philosophy was not better than that of those who preceded him or came after him in the Islamic intellectual revival, such as the Mu'tazilites, the heretical ascetics (as they were called), and the innovative Sufis. His books were either burned or neglected, and his school of thought was misunderstood by most, if not the majority, of those who wrote about him and his school. Ibn Masarra's philosophy was a bold step towards unifying the human philosophical experience. It diversified its approaches, methodologies, and languages, activating Islamic philosophy to contribute to paving a universal human alphabet—a language of consciousness turning away from the transient reality towards the profound inner self. In recounting Ibn Masarra's narrative in this humble paper, we aim to focus on key points that connect Ibn Masarra with the Greek philosopher Ammonius Saccas. Ibn Masarra's thought is a natural extension of the movement to reconcile religion and philosophy, and his immersion in the spiritual experience echoes Ammonius Saccas. Ibn Masarra was inspired by Ammonius, a fact documented by historians of Islamic thought. Additionally, Ibn Masarra renewed the views of Ammonius, which had become entwined with Neoplatonism after Ibn Masarra reinterpreted them, removing the Aristotelian terminology.