The Principles of Correspondences

This seminal treatise is a translation of twelve chapters of a larger work on spiritual intuition ( ilm al-firasa) by Shaykh Akram al-Majid, an expert in Islamic mysticism. The present work lays the foundation for the essential knowledge that guides the perceptive observer to discern inward properties from outward appearances. The author achieves this by providing a careful exposition of the various levels of correspondences and interrelationships within creation.An understanding of these correspondences not only opens up a window into various spiritual disciplines but more significantly it casts light onto the mystical worldview which focuses upon the creative patterns and divine connections within existence. From the spiritual vantage point, this work surveys the varying dimensions of divine manifestation as they unfold within the different degrees of Being. In this respect the work outlines the philosophical underpinnings of mystical inquiry, dealing with the nature of Being and the method by which it is understood and attained. Dr Mukhtar Ali has now made available this superlative work for English readers, providing a complete translation of the original Arabic text and the authors's extensive footnotes. This newly revised parallel English-Arabic translation will be a valuable asset to both students and scholars alike.