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The famous Spanish Muslim mystic and philosopher, Ibn Arabi
Compiled By: Syed Ali Shahbaz
On 28th of the Islamic month of Rabi as-Sani in 638 AH, the famous Spanish Muslim mystic and philosopher, Mohi od-Din Mohammad ibn Ali ibn Mohammad ibn Arabi, passed away in the city of Damascus at the age of 78, during which he widely travelled on the three continents of Europe, Africa and Asia.
He was a child prodigy and after acquiring the sciences of the day, left Spain at the age of 30 to travel over the Islamic world, acquiring further knowledge and writing books during his journeys, which took him on pilgrimage to Mecca and far off places like Baghdad in Iraq and Konya in what is now Turkey. He took up residence in Damascus as of 620 AH, and started to lecture and write books.
Among his well-known books are “Fusus al-Hikam” (Bezels of Wisdom), and “Futuhaat al-Makkiyya” (Meccan Illuminations). His Gnostic school of thought has continued to have a profound impact for several centuries despite the senseless attacks on him by the pseudo scholar Ibn Taimiyya, who failed to taint Ibn Arabi’s saintly personality for elaborating the Qur’anic concepts of “wasila” (means of attaining the proximity of God) and “shafa’a” (power of intercession) that God has granted to Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) and the Infallible Imams.
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