Al-Hikam

Al-Ḥikam al-ʿAṭāʾiyyah

A Poetic Commentary in Progress

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I am currently working on a new book, a contemporary poetic commentary on one of the most beloved classics of Islamic spirituality, al-Ḥikam al-ʿAṭāʾiyyah (The Aphorisms) by the great Sufi master and Shadhili shaykh, Aḥmad ibn ʿAṭāʾ Allāh al-Iskandarī (d. 1309 CE).

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This small yet profound book consists of 264 luminous aphorisms that distill the essence of the spiritual path: surrender to the Divine Will, detachment from the ego, recognition of divine unity in every moment, and the journey from self to Self through love, repentance, and gnosis.

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Written in the 13th century in Alexandria, al-Ḥikam has been a constant companion to seekers across centuries. It has been commented upon by some of the greatest scholars and saints and remains a cornerstone of the Shādhilī tariqa and Sufi literature worldwide.

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My commentary takes the form of short, original English poems, one for each hikmah, aimed at making Ibn ʿAṭāʾ Allāh’s wisdom accessible to the modern heart while remaining faithful to the original Arabic meaning and the classical commentaries. Each poem seeks to evoke the inner taste (dhawq) of the aphorism rather than merely explain it intellectually.