A symbolic reading of Ibn Arabi's Shatranj al-Ārifin and Sheikh A’lā al-Dowleh Semnāni 's Shatranjiya Treatise

A symbol is one of the signs of expression with the help of which a person reveals the unknown, ambiguous and inexpressible content of his mind. Mystics have used symbolism to develop their mystical thoughts. Ibn Arabi's worldview is best illustrated by the use of symbols, allusions and interpretations. In his works, he wondrously decorates the language of his text; still, in its underlying layers, treasures of truth are hidden. The present essay has analyzed the symbols in the two works of Shatranj al-Ārifin Shatranjiya Treatise, respectively attributed to Ibn Arabi and Sheikh A’lā al-Dowleh Semnāni, using a descriptive-analytical method. The results of this research reveal that Ibn Arabi elaborated on the symbolism of chessboard and set the number of chessboard squares according to one hundred positions; he limited himself to the apparent meaning for some of the squares but used hermeneutic interpretations of symbols for those where the apparent meaning did not hold a solid ground. Meanwhile, Sheikh A’lā al-Dowleh Semnāni, in short, associated the characteristics of each of the chess pieces to the nature and features of human existence, creating a mystic-ethical chessboard of human existence in accordance with the chess pieces. Therefore, Ibn Arabi's symbolic system is very complex and mysterious compared to that of Sheikh A’lā al-Dowleh, and at the same time, it is indicative of valuable knowledge from the treasures of divine secrets.