logo
HOME BLOG QURANIC HADITH FIQH tGFH English CONTACT hamburger menubar icon

Two Sorts Of Knowledge

Muhyi al-Din Ibn ʿArabi


Edit OmarKN


Tweet #omarkn

bit.ly/_2kx


Muhyi al-Din Ibn ʿArabi:
“The need of the self for knowledge is greater than the constitution's need for the food that keeps it wholesome. Knowledge is of two sorts: The first knowledge is needed in the same way as food is needed. Hence it is necessary to exercise moderation, to limit oneself to the measure of need. This is the science of Shariʿah's rulings. One should not consider these rulings except in the measure that one's need touches on them at the moment, for their ruling property pertains only to acts that occur in this world. So take from this knowledge only in the measure of your activity!

The second knowledge, which has no limit at which one can come to a halt, is knowledge that pertains to God and the stages (al-mawāqif) of the resurrection. Knowledge of the resurrection's stages (stops) (al-mawāqif) will lead its knower to a preparedness for what is proper to each stage (mawqif). This is because on that day the Real Himself (al-Haqq, Allah) will make demands through the lifting of the veils; that is the Day of Differenciation (yaum-ul fasl) (37:21). It is necessary for all intelligent human beings to be upon insight (ʿala basīrah) (12:108) in their affairs and to be prepared to answer for themselves and for others in the stages (al-mawāqif) within which they know that answers will be demanded of them.”
(I 581.29)

SDG xvi, The Self-Disclosure of God; W C Chittick; p.xvi

"In any case, what Westerners call civilization, the others would call barbarity, because it is precisely lacking in the essential, that is to say, a principle of a higher order."
René Guénon, East And West, 1924



صلّى الله على سيّدنا محمّد و على آله و صحبه و سلّم

The blessings and peace of Allah on the Prophet, his Family, and his Companions, ( sallAllahu `aleihi wa sallam ) .



AlHambra



grey-line

Related texts
link-in






trg4_upG2

* Living Islam – Islamic Tradition *