Volume 10, Issue 39 , October 2014, , Pages 95-116
Abstract
Abstract
When one hears Ibn Arabi’s name, theoretical mysticism comes to the listener’s mind, and the individual will think that the collection of his famous works revolve around explaining the Islamic mysticism, with subjects such as ecstatic punishment of the Hereafter, the caliphate, ...
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Abstract
When one hears Ibn Arabi’s name, theoretical mysticism comes to the listener’s mind, and the individual will think that the collection of his famous works revolve around explaining the Islamic mysticism, with subjects such as ecstatic punishment of the Hereafter, the caliphate, the Imamate, government etc. However, after focusing deeply in his works, one understands that subjects of discourse and jurisprudence are mentioned by this author which have been mixed with mystic topics. The subject of punishment in the Hereafter and its being eternal or not is one of the controversial subject in the science of discourse, on which different schools of discourse in Islam have proposed different opinions based on their own mindset. Nonetheless, none of these groups have cast doubt on the eternity of this punishment in Hell for some of the sinner. On the other hand, they have ruled this punishment as certain and have stayed strictly committed to the texts of Quranic verses.
Similarly, Ibn Arabi has discussed this subject with a mystic style. However, he has not stayed committed to the hundreds of verses and rational proofs and has clearly opposed the eternality of punishment, the realization of punishment and divine promises regarding these issues. He has also claimed that all humans will eventually enjoy God’s gifts in the eternal Hereafter, though the quality of these gifts differs between those who go to Heaven and those who go to Hell. The author of the present article has criticized Ibn Arabi’s viewpoint and, based on citations from the Quran and rational proofs, has reprobated this perspective.
