Ibn Sina and Mysticism: Remarks and Admonitions: Part Four [Book Review]

The Remarks and Admonitions is one of the last works written by the Islamic philosopher Avicenna. Like his more familiar works, the Shifa' and the Najah, this work covers the entire scope of theoretical philosophy, with its first three parts being devoted to logic, physics, and metaphysics, respectively. Part Four of this work is unique, however, since it moves outside the confines of philosophy and takes up the topic of mysticism, employing concepts and terms familiar from the tradition of Sufism. Following upon her excellent translation and study of the first part of this work over a decade ago, Shams Inati has here provided students of Islamic philosophy with another fine and readable translation of Part Four, together with an extensive introduction detailing the contents of the work and its parallels with other Avicennian texts.