From Practice to Metaphysics: The Evolution of Spiritual Stations in Ibn ‘Arabī’s Thought

Summary

The article discusses how the Sufi mystic Muh}yī al-Dīn Ibn ‘Arabī transformed the understanding of spiritual stages from behavioral achievements to ontological realities. By analyzing his work, particularly the twenty-second chapter of Meccan Revelations, it reveals a framework of interconnected cosmic, spiritual, and ontological stations that replace the traditional linear progression. This shift signifies a move from an ethics-focused mystical tradition to one emphasizing ontological insight, with broader implications for Islamic metaphysics.

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Abstract

Classical Sufi manuals present the spiritual stages achieved through disciplined Sufi practice. This article argues that the seventh/thirteenth-century mystic Muh}yī al-Dīn Ibn ‘Arabī reimagined the spiritual stations as ontological realities rather than behavioral achievements. Through a systematic reading of the twenty-second chapter of his Meccan Revelations in dialogue with his fellow Sufi gnostics, it shows that Ibn ʿArabī recast sequential progress into metaphysical loci of divine self-disclosure. The analysis identifies a triadic architecture of cosmic, spiritual, and ontological stations, where the stations function as a holographically interlinked field rather than a linear ladder. This reframing marks the transition from a “first mystical tradition” centered on ethical discipline to a “second mystical tradition” oriented by ontological insight. The conclusion sketches implications for Islamic metaphysics, including the Sadrian synthesis, and suggests how the Akbarian model offers transferable tools for comparative work on mystical experience across traditions.

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