Dispatch from the Red Planet: Prophet Aaron’s Paradoxical Persona

About this episode

Angela Jaffray explores the complex persona of Prophet Aaron and his significance in various texts.

Angela writes: Overshadowed by his younger brother Moses, known primarily for his negative role in the Golden Calf saga, the Prophet Aaron’s importance may seem to some negligible, his status auxiliary, his effect doubtful. A close reading of the Shaykh al-Akbar’s various treatments of this seemingly minor prophet, however, allows us to take a second look at this paradoxical prophet and the complex nature of his leadership and cosmic significance, as themes as perplexing as transcendental and immanental worship, mercy and severity, beauty and majesty come to the fore. This presentation will examine a number of texts where Aaron’s role is singled out in a significant way. In addition to the more familiar Futūḥāt chapters (primarily: "Alchemy of Human Happiness," and "Breath") and the Fuṣūṣ al-Ḥikam’s "Chapter on the Religious Leadership in the Word of Aaron,"" we will also take a look at various other sources, including the Prayers of the Week, the Mosul Revelations, the Night Journey, and the Voyages of the Prophets. Angela Jaffray is an independent scholar specialising in the translation of and commentary on the short works of Ibn 'Arabī. Her translation of Ibn 'Arabī’s…

People in this episode

Guest: Angela Jaffray

Topics covered

• Prophet Aaron
• Moses
• leadership
• cosmic significance
• transcendental worship
• immanental worship

Keywords

• Aaron
• Moses
• Ibn 'Arabi
• leadership
• spirituality
• transcendence
• worship
• prophets

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Futūḥāt, Fuṣūṣ al-Ḥikam, al-Ittiḥād al-kawnī, Isfār 'an natā’ij al-asfār, Prayers of the Week, Mosul Revelations, Night Journey, Voyages of the Prophets

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