Allah’s Station and the Limitations of Expression
The teachings of Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi fundamentally challenge our approach to divine existence. Allah’s station is a rank in which He defines Himself; however, reaching this station requires transcending the limits of human reason and language. The Prophet’s (peace be upon him) supplication, “I seek refuge in You from Yourself,” expresses the utter incomprehensibility of divine existence, humanity’s need for Him, and simultaneously a desire to be protected from Him. Each level of faith is shaped by an individual’s own conceptions and understanding; therefore, expressions used when defining Allah are reflections of one’s belief. The fact that the name ‘Lord’ (Rabb) does not appear independently in the Quran indicates that even a limited expression cannot fully convey His attributes, for Lord is, in essence, absolute and limitless.
True Gnosis: Embracing Truth
According to Ibn Arabi, a true knower of God (arif) does not remain confined to a specific belief about Allah; rather, they consider the truth that encompasses all beliefs. This approach requires approaching different perspectives with tolerance and avoiding criticizing others’ beliefs. The arif knows that their own belief is not absolute truth and strives for a universal understanding. Even while possessing this universal understanding, one may be concerned that their perception of their Lord might encompass all beliefs, because each individual’s relationship with the Lord is unique, and a claim of absolute equality can be misleading. This highlights the depth of the Sufi experience and the necessity of humility.
Detachment in Faith and the Manifestation of Allah
Ibn Arabi emphasizes the importance of detachment (qana’a) in faith. A servant’s limited beliefs about their Lord can hinder His manifestation. If Allah did not permeate all beliefs, those who claim the multiplicity of lords might be correct. In this context, Allah’s command, “Your Lord has commanded you to worship Him alone,” expresses the unity of everything believed with Him; for He is the proof of one’s own existence for the knower. This proof allows the arif to enter every form and accept the forms that people with different beliefs construct. Through allegorical interpretation of verses, it becomes possible to understand that Allah manifests Himself in the forms of belief, and this cannot be denied; otherwise, worship would be performed in a limited and deficient manner.
A Journey Beyond Limitation
The teachings of Ibn Arabi are a map for a Sufi journey. In this journey, the servant removes themselves from base desires (nafs al-haww), learns to fear the Lord’s station, and thus comprehends the truth. However, this comprehension can be too profound for those with limited beliefs to understand; because they struggle to know their own Lord. The ordinary person may err with their limited belief about the Lord, while the true arif transcends all limitations to reach Allah’s absoluteness. In this process, the servant composes Reality as He wills and integrates with Him, thereby experiencing the infinity of existence and the depth of truth. This understanding aims for humanity to transcend their own selfhood and attain a universal consciousness.