On June 10, 2024, a one-day symposium on the topic “Mysticism in Islamic Civilization: The Influence of Ibn Arabi’s School in the Balkans, Iran, and Turkey” was held at the Bosniak Institute, organized by the Cultural Center of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the “Ibn Sina” Scientific Research Institute, and the Bosniak Institute. As the topic itself suggests, the symposium brought together speakers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Turkey, and North Macedonia, as well as representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s diplomatic and cultural life.
Six presenters participated in the symposium, the first of whom was Dr. Mohammad Mahdi Imanipoor, President of IR Iran Organization of Islamic Culture and Communication, who spoke about Ibn Arabi’s influence on Mulla Sadra.
Next, Prof. Hafizović presented on the topic “Love and Knowledge in the Thought of Ibn ‘Arabi and Abdullah Bošnjak.” Prof. Dr. Fatemeh Tabataba’i, President of the Scientific Association of Islamic Mysticism in Iran, spoke on the topic “Emigration and Jihad as Continuations of Islamic Civilization.” The focus of her presentation was the explanation of the concepts of ‘jihad’ and ‘hijra’ on a spiritual level.
The next speaker was Prof. Dr. Abdulrahim Alkiš Šimak, dean of the University “Şirnak” in the Turkish city of Sirnak. He spoke about Ibn Arabi’s concept of politics and its administration. Following him, Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Şeykh, a professor at the Faculty of Islamic Sciences at the University of Tehran, presented on the topic “Ibn Arabi’s Dynamic and Human Interpretation of the Guidelines in Musavi’s Work ‘Fusus al-Hikam’.”
The final speaker was Prof. Dr. Hasan Džilo, a professor at the Faculty of Islamic Sciences at the University of Skopje, who presented the key ideas of Ibn Sina and Ibn Arabi on being and existence.
The symposium was held in two parts, moderated by Prof. Ph.D. Rešid Hafizović.
