Glossary
Terms used in the biography, work lists and manuscript studies. These short editorial definitions are reading aids; meanings can vary with context.
- Fihrist الفهرست
A list or catalogue of works. Here it names the particular list attributed to Ibn al-Arabi, with its own manuscript history.
What the Fihrist says about its own scope- Ijaza الإجازة
An authorization, whose scope depends on its wording. It may name teachers, texts or transmission rights; it is not simply “leave”.
Distinguishing the Ijaza from additions by copyists- Audition record السماع
A record of a text being read or heard, often identifying participants and a date. In this documentary setting it is not a reference to music.
The Qunawi manuscript and its audition record- Chain of transmission الإسناد
An identified sequence of transmitters. Distinguish a documented chain from a general claim of intellectual influence.
The sources behind the life story- Attribution النسبة
A claim that a work belongs to an author. The presence of a name in a catalogue is evidence to examine, not automatic authentication.
An argument about the Fihrist’s attribution- Manuscript witness النسخة
A particular physical copy or witness to a text. Its copying date and provenance are distinct from the work’s composition date.
The Qunawi manuscript and its audition record- Folio and side الورقة
A manuscript leaf has two sides, often labelled a/b or recto/verso. Preserve the catalogue’s convention; folio 188b is not website section 188.
The Qunawi manuscript and its audition record- Critical editing التحقيق
Establishing and explaining a text through its witnesses and evidence. A translation of an editor’s findings is not a new collation.
The first three sources in the attribution scheme- Approximate dating التقريب الزمني
A proposed date constrained by evidence. Preserve the author’s uncertainty and distinguish inference from an explicitly dated record.
How the biography reconstructs chronology- Epithet or title اللقب
A name such as al-Muzaffar or Muhyiddin may not uniquely identify a person. Check lineage, place and dates together.
Ibn Arabi and Ibn al-Arabi: distinguishing two authorsAn explanation of another text. A commentator’s interpretation should be attributed to that commentator rather than silently assigned to the original author.
Sadr al-Din al-Qunawi in the Damascus circle- Transmission and circulation التداول
The movement of texts through copying, reading, teaching and translation. Separate these acts from the first composition of the work.
Ibn Sawdakin and the move to Damascus
