This is a discussion between Pablo Beneito and Stephen Hirtenstein on their latest book Patterns of Contemplation, which was published at the end of December 2021. It was hosted by David Hornsby (Ibn Arabi Society) in February 2022.
The book is an innovative and comprehensive introduction to the sacred principles and symbolism of geometry, letters and numbers, through the first in-depth analysis and English translation of a major Sufi masterpiece, The Blessing-Prayer of Effusion (al-Ṣalāt al-fayḍiyya). This prayer on the Prophet Muhammad, understood as the Reality of the Human Being, is both a metaphysical masterpiece and a devotional tour de force.
Pablo and Stephen discuss the nature of prayer upon the Prophet according to Ibn 'Arabi, and the special qualities of this extraordinary Blessing-Prayer, its commentary tradition and its author, as well as the difficulties of translation.