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The Greatest Sheikh, Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi is Muhammad en Ali ben Muhammad ben Ahmad ben Abdullah al-Hatimi al-Ta'ee, son of Abdullah ben Hatim, brother of the revered Companion, Oday ben Hatem. He is called Muhyiddin, and is surnamed by Abu Abdullah. He is also known by al-Hatimi or al-Ta'ee as well as "Ibn Arabi" and "Ibn al-Arabi". People of Mashreq (Orient) used to call him as Ibn Arabi, without "al", to distinguish him from the Judge, Abu Bakr Muhammad ben Abdullah Ibn al-Arabi al-Ma'fery, born in Seville, 468 Hijri, and who was famous for knowledge of Fiqh, Jurisprudence and Hadith. In addition to this reputed title, he is known for since early in his life, his followers usually call him with aptly dignified titles: Sultan of sages, Imam of the pious and Mentor of sheikhs and followers, as well as other deserved titles of reverence and veneration. As of the 12th century, after Sultan Selim I liberated Damascus in 922 Hijri and ordered the establishment of the mosque of Sheikh Muhyiddin and erection of his tomb next to that, Ibn Arabi became known as The Greatest Sheikh.
The Greatest Sheikh, Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi was born on Monday, 17th of Ramadan, 560 Hijri (26th of July, 1165 AD) at the city of Murcia, eastern Andalusia. He then moved to Seville 568/1172 where he lived for about 20 years, during which he frequently visited Morocco and Tunisia. He stayed there for short intervals, then moved to al-Mashreq for Haj in 598/1201 and never returned to Andalusia afterwards. In Mashreq, he lived in Egypt for a short period and then travelled to Mecca for dedicated worship and teaching at the Holy Mosque, where Allah endowed him with secrets and noble gems of knowledge that he recorded in his famous book The Meccan Revelations (al-futuhat al-makkiyya). He then moved to Iraq, visited Bagdad and Mosul and met their men. Afterwards, he flocked to Turkey where he settled for a while and enjoyed a high regard from its Muslim King Kekaws. Later on, the Sheikh went on numerous trips to Iraq, Egypt, Syria and Palestine until he finally settled in Damascus, 620/1223. He died on the 22nd of Rabi' II, 638 Hijri (9/11/1240). He was buried at the foot of Qasyoun Mount. The area where his tomb lies is named after him (Sheikh Muhyiddin). His tomb is located at the end of the Mosque built by Sultan Selim. He fathered two sons: Sa'duddin Muhammad and Imaduddin Abu Abdullah Muhammad.
Sheikh Muhyiddin read the Qura'n in Seville to Sheikh Abu Bakr ben Khalaf in the seven recitations of the al-Kitab al-Kafi. He studied exegesis and heard it from many authors or narrators, including Abu Bakr Muhammad ben Abu Jamrah narrating of his father of al-Dani, author of the Kitab al Taysir, in addition to Ibn Zarqoun, Abu Muhammad Abdul Haqq Al- Ishbili al-Azdi and many others. He also heard Hadith from Abul Qassim al-Khuzestani and others. He also heard Sahih Muslim from Sheikh Abul Hassan ben Abu Nasr.
The Greatest Sheikh, Muhyiddin Iben Arabi was a master of Sufism. He wrote over five hundred of relevant books and treatises, according to Abdul Rahman Jami, author of Nafahat-ol-Ons (Whiffs of Intimacy). The Meccan Revelations is amongst his most important books. Indeed, it is a most significant book in Islamic history, and for that matter the history of mankind. Of his books also is the Interpretation of the meanings of the Holy Qura'n, which is said, according to author of Fawat al-Wafayat, to be a 95-volume book. Perhaps this is the Great Book of exegesis, where he interpreted surah Al-Kahf (the Cave) until the verse "and whom We had taught knowledge from Our own Presence." and died before completing it. He also authored the book entitled The Bezels of Wisdom, which he prefaced by saying that he had a vision of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in his sleep. The Prophet gave him a book and told him to spread it among people so they can benefit of. He did as he was told to the letters. The following are also amongst his books: Presentation of the Devout; The Description of the Encompassing Circles; Phoenix of Maghreb in Description of the Devout and the Fabulous Gryphon of Maghreb; Interpreter of Ardent Desires; Divine Governance of the Human Kingdom; Settings of the Stars and disclosure of Secrets of Sciences; Facts of Revelation; Al-Gouzwa Al-Muktabasa wa Al- Khatra Al-Mukhtalsa; Explanation of the Divine Epithets; Divine Knowledge; Journey to the Lord of Power; Contemplations of the Holy Mysteries, Medina Revelations; Holy Hadiths, and other small treatises. Othman Yahya authored a book in French about the history and classification of Ibn Arabi's works and this book was translated into Arabic by Dr. Ahmed Al-Tibiy and published in 2001 by the General Egyptian Book Institution. Interested writers and researchers were unanimous that the Greatest Sheikh, Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi, was an extraordinary author, different than others in terms of quantity and quality. He himself stresses that he does not pursue the same path followed by authors who write out of careful thinking and consideration; he writes out of inspiration and revelation.
Many books of history and biographies encompassed a biography of Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi, including: the Needed Epitome, vol. 15, p. 58, No. 197, Tekmal le-Wafat Al-Nakhla, vol. 3, p. 555, No. 2972, Siyar A'lam Al-Nubala (Biographies of Eminent Nobles), vol. 4, p. 173, No. 1713, History of Islam: (631-640) p.352, No. 543; Al-Wafi b-El-Wafayat, vol.4, p173, No. 1713; Fawat al-Wafayat, vol. 3, p. 435, No. 484, Mera'at El-Jennan, vol. 4, p. 100, al-Bidaya wal-Nihaya, vol.13, p. 167, Ghayat al-Nihaya, vol.2, p. 208, No. 3277, al-Nujoom al-Zahira, vol.6, p. 339, Tabaqat al-Mufasirin by Al-Siyouti, p. 98, No. 115, Tabaqat al-Mufasirin by al Dawoudi, vol. 2, p. 204, No. 541, Nafh al-tib, vol.2, p. 161, No. 113, Shazarat al-Zahab, vol.5, p. 190, Rawdat al-janna (The Gardens of Paradise), vol.8, p. 51, No. 685, al-Kuna wa al-'alqab, vol. 3, p. 164, al-A'lam, vol.6, p. 281 and Mojam Al-Mualfeen, vol.11, p. 40.
Mohamed Haj Yousef
Shams al-Maghrib (biography of the greatest Sheikh Muhyieddin Ibn al-Arabi and his doctrine) (pp. 13-16).
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