Michel Chodkiewicz

Michel Chodkiewicz, was a distinguished expert on the works of Shaykh al-Akbar,  He was renowned for his deep understanding of Sufism and Ibn al-ʿArabī’s literature. Chodkiewicz began studying the works of Ibn al-ʿArabī in the 1950s, which became his intellectual and spiritual calling. Professionally, he served as an editor and later as the ‘Président Directeur Général’ at the French publishing house ‘Éditions du Seuil’ from 1979 to 1989. His expertise in Islam and Sufism led him to lecture at EHESS in 1982, where he became the director of studies after retiring from Seuil in 1989. Throughout his career, Chodkiewicz traveled extensively, participating in conferences worldwide and engaging in research on Sufi paths and Islamic sainthood. His generosity and dedication in sharing his vast knowledge through teaching and correspondence left a profound impact on his students and colleagues. He retired in 1994 and withdrew from public life thereafter.