Muhammad ibn Massarra (Cordoba, Spain, 883-931) was one of the earliest masters of thought and philosophy in Al-Andalus. Educated in the theology of Islam and philosophy by his father, a merchant in favor of heterodox, “liberal” schools of thought, he carried out a large part of his teaching work while enduring constant accusations of heresy. The work presented here is a study, critical edition and annotated translation by Pilar Garrido Clemente of the Risālat al-Iʿtibār and the Kitāb Jawāṣṣ al-ḥurūf.

This book is a true gem of Islamic thought from the era of Al-Andalus. It contains every known work by of one of the first great thinkers produced by Al-Andalus. Ibn Masarra is one of the most fascinating, heterodox Islamic thinkers from Al-Andalus. Constantly persecuted for his teachings, he founded a sort of eremite philosophical school which proclaimed liberal principles that would once again upend any preconceived image one might hold about Moorish Islamic thought. The resounding affirmation of human freedom, his causal theories, his denial of hell and, in short, his independence from orthodox thought, make his writings excellent for modern-day readers. Now being presented is this critical bilingual annotated edition, created by Pilar Garrido Clemente, of the Epistle of Interpretation and the Book of the Meanings of Letters, in addition to her study which provides context about the life and works of this great Sufi thinker from Al-Andalus.

Pilar Garrido Clemente holds a PhD in Arabic Philology from the University of Salamanca and is a tenured professor at the University of Murcia’s Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies. She has been a professor at universities in Brazil, Jordan, Morocco and the United States and has run conferences and seminars at centers on four continents. She has published numerous articles on Islamic mysticism, historiography, Islamophobia, Arab women and comparative literature. Her interests also include a notable number of works on innovative educational methods, comics, stereotypes, and intercultural and interfaith dialogue. Her career as an educator on Arab-Islamic culture has earned her several awards and acknowledgments. Due to her constant dedication and seeking, she belongs to several research, development and innovation groups dealing with Al-Andalus, inclusive heritage, Moorish thought and Sufi mysticism, and she forms part of European projects on innovation in education and Islamophobia. She has been the general coordinator of the Mare Nostrum Campus of International Excellence at the Universities of Murcia and Cartagena.