SPIRITUAL ASCENSION OF IBN AL ARABI

SPIRITUAL ASCENSION

The Spiritual ascension (al-Miʻrāj al-Rūḥānī), marks a significant spiritual experience for Ibn al-ʿArabī, occurring before 586 AH when he was in his mid-twenties. The account of this ascension can be found in the Futuhat where he explains his relationship with his Shaykh Abū Yaʿqūb Yūsuf al-Kūmī, he says:

I received my ethical discipline (riyāḍa) from him, and reciprocally, he gained from me. We shared a unique dynamic where he was both my student and teacher, and I held a comparable role for him. This perplexed people, leaving them unaware of the underlying reasons. This occurred in the year 586 when my spiritual opening (kashf) had outpaced my ethical discipline, posing potential risks. Thankfully, Allah blessed me with the opportunity to acquire moral discipline (riyāḍa) under the guidance of this Sheikh. May Allah reward him generously for his contributions. [I, 616]

We found these words of Shaykh Ibn al-ʿArabī in Ismāil Ibn al-Sawdkain’s book Lawāqiḥ al-Asrār:

"My retreat commenced at Fajr, and by sunrise, I had attained a spiritual revelation [kashf]. Subsequent to this enlightening experience, I received teachings on the sequence of recitations [adhkār] and various spiritual stations. I remained in seclusion for 14 months, during which I underwent a profound spiritual ascension. Subsequently, I documented this transformative journey in a comprehensive book."

Following this extraordinary journey, he promptly penned the Kitāb al-Isrā (The Book of the Spiritual Ascension). and Risālat al-Anwār (Journey to the Lord of Power).