The Sufis have termed the changing of forms in various states as the world of images (ʿālam al-mithāl), and have based the embodiment of spirits (arwāḥ) and their manifestation in various forms within the world of images upon this concept. They sought to relate this to the following verse: "Then We sent to her Our Spirit, and he appeared to her as a well-proportioned man." (Maryam 19:17)
ʿālam al-mithāl (World of Images)
The Sufis have termed the changing of forms in various states as the world of images (ʿālam al-mithāl), and have based the embodiment of spirits (arwāḥ) and their manifestation in various forms within the world of images …