The Truth Revealed by the Times
According to the understanding reflected in Mühyiddin İbnü'l-Arabî’s work, *Fütühât-ı Mekkiyye*, prayer times are not merely indicators of time but are closely linked to the order of the universe and the manifestation of divine will. The rising of the sun, the arrival of midday, the occurrence of afternoon and evening – all carry deep meanings that should be perceived with the eye of the heart as a cosmic rhythm. Prayer times aim to break away from the chaos of the self and the sensory world and turn towards God, opening the doors to an inner awakening; because each time indicates a different mental and spiritual state.
The Connection Between Servant and God in Prayer
İbnü'l-Arabî’s teachings emphasize that prayer is a ground for dialogue between the servant and God. Prayer is more than just fulfilling obligations; it is an expression of being intertwined with divine speech, submission to God, and bowing to His will. In this context, the times of prayer reflect God’s different attributes; in each time, the servant knows his Lord from different perspectives and turns towards Him. While the servant cannot turn his face to other actions during prayer, this represents a moment when one must focus entirely on divine will; thus, prayer deserves the name *salât*.
Faith and Knowledge: The Difference Between a Believer and a Scholar
Mühyiddin İbnü'l-Arabî’s work offers important insights into the distinction between a believer (mumin) and a scholar (âlim), illuminating the nature of faith and the role of knowledge. A believer is someone who affirms news open to possibilities, imitating the scholar’s knowledge to verify it – this forms the basis of their faith. A scholar, however, can determine the certainty of the news by possessing knowledge supported by evidence. Yet, both assume different roles in the path to truth. The believer remains steadfast in faith by confirming the scholar, while the scholar confirms the reliability of knowledge by verifying the news; this demonstrates the importance of both faith and knowledge.