“That I Did Love the Moor to Live with Him”: Islam in/and the Study of “Western Esotericism”
New Approaches to the Study of Esotericism December 3, 2020 L. Saif
The article argues that the field of 'Western esotericism' is built on a narrative that marginalizes non-Western traditions, particularly Islam, despite deep historical entanglements. It traces the genealogy of the West-versus-East divide, highlighting how orientalist perspectives and perennialist sources, especially Henry Corbin's work, have sanitized Islam's role. The author recommends a reflective global approach that recognizes non-Western agency in the globalization of values and concepts. Additionally, the article asserts that Islamic esotericism (bāṭiniyya) has existed since at least the ninth century, with connections to currents in Western esotericism through Traditionalists and Sufism.