The existential rank of human beings according to Ibn Arabi

Abstract

The aim of this study was to delineate the existential ranking of human beings within the perspective of Ibn Arabi’s existence theory. The analysis illustrated some philosophical and practical positions that emerged due to this ranking as seen by Ibn Arabi. The study concludes that for Ibn Arabi, the origin of humanity is the purpose of the universe and that humans have an ontological primacy and this reflects the Universal Reality or the Muhammadan Reality of the universe. Consequent to this, the origin of humans encompasses all the facts about divine names and therefore all cosmic facts. Accordingly, humanity rose with the existence of humans. Since the origin of humanity is all encompassing, it warrants that the universe should be organized by succession and that all the elements in the universe serve this purpose. This ranking presents the most perfect forms/ spheres of existence. The study concludes that Ibn Arabi’s position entails some practical results that assume the preclusion of violations against humanity, which extols and honors human beings.