First published in 1993. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

After long periods spent in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and above all in Iran, from 1954 until 1974 Henry Corbin held the position of directeur d'etudes at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (Ve section), being the successor of Louis Massignon. In Tehran, during these same years, he organised the Department oflranology of the Franco-Iranian Institute. There, he established and directed the Bibliotheque lranienne, an important collection of editions of original Persian and Arabic texts together with analytical studies. Henry Corbin died on 7 October 1978 at the age of 75. His many publications illustrate a life spent in studies of comparative philosophy and Islamic concepts.

PART ONE From the Beginning Down to the Death of Averrotss (595/1198) I. The Sources of Philosophical Meditation in Islam A. Twelver Shiism B. Ismailism I. FaPmid Ismailism II. The reformed Ismailism of Alamdt III. The Sunni Kallm IV. Philosophy and the Natural Sciences V. The Hellenizing Philosophers VI. Sufism VII. Al-Suhrawardi and the Philosophy of Light Vlll. In Andalusia PART1WO From the Death of Averroes to the Present Day- General Survey I. Sunni Thought II. The Metaphysics of Sufism III. Shiite Thought; Perspective