Ibn Arabi - The world is illusory

The world is illusory: it has no real existence.
This is what is meant by "imagination"
(Idiayaly). You have been made to
imagine that the world is something separate
and independently real, outside of the
Absolute. But in reality it is not so. Do you
not see that in the world of sensory things
a shadow is attached to the person from
whom it originates and that it is impossible
to separate a thing from its essence'?
Therefore know thy own essence and who
thou art, what thy inmost nature is and
what thy relation is to the Absolute. Know
in what respect thou art the Absolute, in
what respect the world, and in what respect
"other" (than God), "different," etc. And
here it is that "knowers" become ranked according
to degrees.

Ibn Arabi (1165–1240), often referred to as “The Greatest Master” (al-Shaykh al-Akbar), was a renowned Andalusian Muslim mystic, philosopher, poet, and spiritual teacher. His influence is vast, particularly in the development of Sufism, where he is considered one of the most important figures. Ibn Arabi’s works cover a range of subjects, including metaphysics, theology, and cosmology, but he is most famous for his mystical and philosophical writings.

Key aspects of Ibn Arabi’s thought include:

 1. Unity of Being (Wahdat al-Wujud): Ibn Arabi is often associated with the concept of the “Unity of Being,” which posits that all of existence is a manifestation of the Divine. In this view, there is no true separation between God and the created world, and all of creation reflects God’s essence.

 2. The Perfect Human (al-Insan al-Kamil): He introduced the idea of the “Perfect Human,” a figure who embodies the highest realization of spiritual potential and serves as the most complete reflection of God’s attributes. The Perfect Human is a central figure in Ibn Arabi’s cosmology, and this concept influenced later Sufi and Islamic thought.

 3. The Nature of God: Ibn Arabi emphasized the unknowability of God in His essence, suggesting that God can only be known through His manifestations in the world. For Ibn Arabi, God’s attributes and names are the only way in which human beings can come into contact with the Divine.

 4. Metaphysical Poetry: Ibn Arabi’s poetry is filled with metaphysical themes, using symbols and language to express his mystical experiences and insights. His Divine Poem (al-Qasidah al-Nuniyyah) and Fusus al-Hikam (The Bezels of Wisdom) are considered masterpieces of both mystical philosophy and poetry.

 5. Impact on Sufism and Islamic Thought: Ibn Arabi’s ideas were often controversial, particularly his concept of the Unity of Being, but they influenced numerous later Sufi thinkers, scholars, and poets, including Rumi, Attar, and Mulla Sadra. His ideas also contributed to broader Islamic theological and philosophical debates.

Though some of his ideas were challenged by other scholars of his time and later, Ibn Arabi’s legacy as a mystic and thinker continues to be highly regarded in both the Islamic world and beyond.