𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁

𝗔𝘀𝗵-𝗦𝗵𝗮𝘆𝗸𝗵 𝗮𝗹-𝗔𝗸𝗯𝗮𝗿 𝗠𝘂h𝘆ī 𝗮𝗱-𝗗ī𝗻 𝗜𝗯𝗻 ʿ𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗯ī قدس الله سره 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁

Ash-Shaykh al-Akbar Muḥyī ad-Dīn Ibn ʿArabī قدس الله سره who is one of the most profound Tassawuf masters in Islamic history, through out his works he developed an intricate framework for understanding the human soul and its journey towards spiritual realisation.

The diagram attached encapsulates some of the key aspects of Ibn Arabi's teachings on the stages and elements of spiritual development and purification.

Let's explore each component in detail, breaking down the three concentric circles and their significance.

𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 - قلب (𝗤𝗮𝗹𝗯)

In the Islamic spiritual science of Tassawuf, the heart (Qalb) is considered the seat of spiritual consciousness and intuition. It's not merely the physical heart but a metaphysical entity that holds one's deepest spiritual knowledge and connection to Allah. The heart is the primary organ for spiritual perception and is crucial in one's journey towards divine proximity.

𝟮)𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱 - عقل (𝗔𝗾𝗹)

The intellect (Aql) represents the faculty of reason and understanding. It's closely connected to the heart in Tassawuf. While the heart perceives divine truths, the mind processes and comprehends these insights. A balanced relationship between the Aql and Qalb is essential for a deeper insight and holistic spiritual life.

𝟯) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗹 - روح (𝗥𝘂𝗵)

The soul (Ruh) is considered a divine breath and a direct gift from Allah, making it the innermost and most sacred aspect of a human being. The Ruh is seen as the spark of attaining divine presence within the heart, constantly seeking to reunite with its source, Allah.

𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳

𝟭) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗴𝗼 - نفس (𝗡𝗮𝗳𝘀)

The Nafs represents the self or ego and is often depicted as the lower, more carnal aspect of the human being. It is the source of desires and impulses that need to be disciplined and purified. The spiritual journey involves transforming the Nafs from its base form to a purified state.

وَاذْكُرْ رَبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ
And remember your Rabb inside your-self
[7:205]

𝟮)𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗶𝗹- -النفس الأمارة (𝗡𝗮𝗳𝘀 𝗮𝗹-𝗔𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗮)

This is the first and lowest stage of the Nafs. It is dominated by base desires and inclinations towards wrongdoing. It represents the initial, untamed state of the self that must be overcome through spiritual effort.

النَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ
Indeed the nafs that overwhelmingly commands a person to do sin.[12:53]

𝟯)𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗹 - النفس اللوامة (𝗡𝗮𝗳𝘀 𝗮𝗹-𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘄𝗮𝗺𝗮)

At this stage, the Nafs becomes self-aware and begins to feel remorse for its wrongdoings. This is characterised by a heightened sense of self-reflection and guilt over sinful actions, leading to a desire for repentance and self-correction.

وَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ
And I do swear by the self-reproaching soul.
[75:2]

𝟰)𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 - النفس - (𝗡𝗮𝗳𝘀 𝗮𝗹-𝗠𝘂𝘁𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗮)

This represents the highest stage of the Nafs, where the self is tranquil and content with Allah's will. It is marked by a deep sense of inner peace and satisfaction, having overcome the struggles of the lower stages and achieved a state of spiritual harmony.

يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ ارْجِعِي إِلَى رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَرْضِيَّةً
To the righteous it will be said “oh reassured soul, return to your Lord well pleased, and pleasing to Him”

[89:27-28]

𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗲: 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵

𝟭)𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 - فطرة- (𝗙𝗶𝘁𝗿𝗮)

Fitra refers to the innate disposition and purity with which every human is born. It embodies the original, untainted nature of a person, inclined towards truth and goodness. The spiritual journey often involves returning to this pure state.

𝟮)𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 - آخرة - (𝗔𝗸𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗮)

Akhira represents the afterlife and the eternal dimension that follows physical death. In Tassawuf, awareness of the Akhira encourages a life lived in preparation for the meeting of Allah in his divine presence.

𝟯)𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 منجيات - (𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗷𝗶𝘆𝗮𝘁)

These are actions, practices, and virtues that lead to spiritual safety and success. They include faith, good deeds, and adherence to divine commandments, which safeguard the soul and guide it towards salvation.

𝟰)𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳 - تزكية النفس (𝗧𝗮𝘇𝗸𝗶𝘆𝗮-𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝗳𝘀)

Tazkiya-e Nafs involves the cleansing and purification of the soul from impurities and spiritual diseases. It is a process of refining the self to align more closely with divine attributes.

𝟱) 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘀 - تهذيب الأخلاق (𝗧𝗮𝗵𝘇𝗶𝗯-𝗲 𝗔𝗵𝗹𝗮𝗾)

This is the process of improving one's character and behavior. It involves cultivating virtues such as patience, humility, and honesty, and is essential for achieving spiritual maturity.

𝟲)𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳 - جهاد - (𝗝𝗶𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗔𝗹 𝗡𝗮𝗳𝘀)

Often considered the "greater jihad," this struggle involves combating one's inner desires and impulses that lead away from spiritual growth. It is a continuous effort to align one's actions and intentions with divine will.

𝟳)𝗦𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻 شيطان (𝗦𝗵𝗮𝘆𝘁𝗮𝗻)

Shaytan represents the forces of evil and temptation that lead one astray from the spiritual path. Understanding and resisting these influences is crucial for maintaining spiritual integrity.

𝟴) 𝗛𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 - غفلة (𝗚𝗵𝗮𝗳𝗹𝗮)

Ghafla is the state of being inattentive and neglectful of one's spiritual duties and the presence of Allah. It often results from being overly absorbed in worldly matters and distractions.

𝟵)𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 - دنيا (𝗗𝘂𝗻𝘆𝗮)

Dunya refers to the temporal, material world and its allurements. While it is necessary to live in the Dunya, a true adherent of the Tassawuf science should seek to avoid becoming attached to its fleeting pleasures and instead focus on their spiritual journey.

𝟭𝟬) 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗹 - مهلكات (𝗠𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘁)

These are elements and actions that endanger the soul, leading to moral and spiritual decline. They include sinful behaviors, bad company, and anything that diverts one from the path to spiritual growth.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗪𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲

This spiritual diagram represents a visual summary of the inner workings and stages of human spirituality according to Ibn Arabi's teachings. The central elements (Qalb, Aql, Ruh) are the core faculties essential for perceiving and understanding divine truths.

The middle circle depicts the progressive purification and development of the Nafs, which every individual must undergo.

The outer circle encompasses the broader concepts and forces that influence one's spiritual journey, either aiding or hindering it.

Understanding this diagram helps grasp the comprehensive view of personal transformation and spiritual ascension in Ibn Arabi's mysticism, guiding adherents towards realising their ultimate connection with the divine.