STUDY TEXT: GHAZALI’S MISHKAT AL-ANWAR [THE NICH FOR THE LIGHTS]

[PLEASE NOTE - The course is BOTH in person ONSITE in London and for those who can not attend in person can purchase the LIVE ONLINE STREAMING ticket to watch it from their device and those coming in person, should you not decide to attend person on the day or half the day, you will still recieve a link to the live online streaming, irrespective but are encouraged to attend in person if you have registered for that ticket, as this helps with allows room allocation, respectively for fellow participants].

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Islamic Courses present:

STUDY TEXT: GHAZALI’S MISHKAT AL-ANWAR [THE NICH FOR THE LIGHTS]

With

Professor Bilal Kuspinar[ Chair of the Department of Philosophy & Director of the International Rumi Center for the Study of Civilizations Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya,Turkey]*

Date: Saturday 11th April 2026

Time: 9am - 6pm

Venue: Ebrahim College, 399–401 High Street, Stratford, London, E15 4QZ

Al-Ghazali's Mishkat al-Anwar (The Niche for Lights) is a profound spiritual work exploring the Quranic 'Light Verse (24:35)' and divine illumination, using light metaphors to describe the soul's journey to God, bridging philosophy and mysticism by arguing reason leads to spiritual reality beyond mere theological abstraction, a pivotal text in understanding Islamic mysticism and the divine. Its esotericism excited the curiosity and even the suspicion of Muslim thinkers from the first, and we have deeply interesting allusions to it in Ibn Tufaill and Ibn Rushd works and responses. This treatise gives an intimate glimpse of the inner life and esoteric thought of Imam al-Ghazali. It begins where his autobiographical Deliverance from Error (Al-Munqidh min al-Dalal) leaves off by expounding on the light verse from the Qur’an and the subjects of veils from the hadith. These are further elaborated in three sections; one studying the various meanings of “light”, the other on symbolic language in the Qur’an and Hadith and the final section applying the results of this symbology to the verse and hadith in question.

This short intensive overview course will cover the following:

I-Ghazali’s Life, Works and Thought: A brief overview

Selected Readings from al-Munqidh Min al-Dalal (The Deliverance from the Error)

The Division of Sciences and the Seekers of the Truth (al-Haqq)

The Method of the Sufis

II-Background of Ghazali’s Interpretation of the Light-Verse of the Qur’an (al-Nur 24:35)

Readings from Ja’far al-Sadiq’s (d. 765) Mystical Exegesis

Readings from Ibn Sina’s (d. 1037) Philosophical-Mystical Interpretation (in al-Shifa’ and Ithbat al-Nubuwwa)

III-Analysis of Mishkat al-Anwar (Being-Knowledge-Truth)

Light (al-Nur): The Name, Meaning and Understanding

The Real and the Metaphorical

Interpretations of the Key Concepts:

The Niche (al-Mishkat), the Lamp (al-Misbah), the Glass (al-Zujaj), the (Olive) Tree (al-Shajara), the Olive Oil (al-Zayt) and the Fire (al-Nar)

The purpose of the parables and similitudes: Ghazali’s perspective

The Degrees of the Luminous Human Spirits (Maratib al-Arwah al-Bashariyyah al-Nuraniyyah)

Ghazali’s Understanding and Interpretation of the Prophet’s Hadith:

“God has seventy veils of lights and darkness….”

Post-Ghazalian Philosophical-Mystical Exegeses of the Light-Verse

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About the course presenter: *Professor Bilal Kuspinar[Chair of the Department of Philosophy & Director of the International Rumi Center for the Study of Civilizations Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya,Turkey] received his B.A. in theology from Selçuk University, Konya, his M.A. in philosophy, logic and history of science from the Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, his first Ph.D. in the history of philosophy from Selçuk University, and his second Ph.D. in Islamic philosophy and mysticism from McGill University. He specializes in history of medieval philosophy and mysticism. His research investigates into various philosophical and mystical traditions flourished in Islamic civilization, especially within the context of the Ottoman intellectual milieu. Prior to joining Konya Necmettin Erbakan University, he taught at several academic institutions and universities, including Selcuk University, International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC), Kuala Lumpur, and Concordia and McGill Universities, Montreal, and Ahlia University, Bahrain. He has also participated in many international conferences and seminars in his field. In addition to his extensive contributions to the field of philosophy and humanity studies with his many articles, he has so far published three books: The Lamp of Mysteries (Misbāh al-Asrār): A Commentary on the Light-Verse of the Qur'an: Arabic text critically edited, translated, and annotated. (Oxford: Anqa publishing, 2011) Ismā'īl Ankaravī on the Illuminative Philosophy: His Izāhu'l-Hikem, Its Edition and Anaylsis in Comparison with Dawwānī's Shawākil al-Hūr, Together with the Translation of Suhrawardī's Hayākil al-Nūr. Kuala Lumpur: International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC), 1996. Ibn Sina'da Bilgi Teorisi (Avicenna's Theory of Knowledge). 2nd ed. Istanbul: MEB, 2001 (1st ed. in 1995). He was the Counsellor for Social and Religious Affairs at the Turkish Embassy Washington D.C. and Head of the Diyanet Center of America between 2019 - 2023.

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AUDIENCE: Open to ALL and any one interested in Islamic spirituality, metaphysics, mysticism, philosophy and classical Islamic scholarship across the various Islamicates.

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All welcome, limited spaces, pre-registration required!

DEADLINE FOR BOOKINGS APPLY after which prices increase

For more information call/tel: 07956735301 or email: [email protected]

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* Please note, time and resources have been set aside to ensure the programme runs in a smooth and professional manner for the maximum benefit of participants and thus unless the programme has been postponed or cancelled, there are NO REFUNDS as part of the terms and condition policy.

*Lunch and refreshments can be purchased at cafe's or restaurant's near to the venue and NOT included in ticket price.

*The course is BOTH in person ONSITE in London and for those who can not attend in person can purchase the LIVE ONLINE STREAMING ticket to watch it from their device and those coming in person, should decide not to attend person on the day or half the day, you will still recieve a link to the live online streaming, irrespective but are encouraged to attend in person if you have registered for that ticket, as this helps with allows room allocation, respectively for fellow participants

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