Muslim Spain gave rise to two unusual figures in the mystical tradition of Ibn Masarra (269 883-319 931) and Ibn al-?Arabi (560 1165-638 1240). Representing, respectively, the beginning and the pinnacle of Islamic mysticism in al-Andalus, Ibn Masarra and Ibn al-?Arabi embody in their writings a type of mystical discourse which is quite different from the Sufi discourse that evolved in the Islamic east during the 9th-12th centuries.In Mysticism and Philosophy in al-Andalus , Michael Ebstein points to the Isma?ili tradition as one possible source which helped shape the distinct intellectual world from which both Ibn Masarra and Ibn al-?Arabi derived. By analyzing their writings and the works of various Isma?ili authors, Michael Ebstein unearths the many links that connect the thought of Ibn Masarra and Ibn al-?Arabi to the Isma?ili tradition.