Ibn `Arabi
Muhyiddin Ibn `Arabi (born 1165 in Andalusia, died 1240 in Damascus) is one of the most influential personalities in the Islamic world. The universality of his thought, which has made him increasingly well-known in the West, is as relevant as ever in today’s world.
As a teenager, he felt a special calling from God and withdrew from the world. He studied the Islamic scriptures and all the traditional sciences, learned from many spiritual masters and began to write books.
Throughout his life he had many mystical experiences, visions and insights and countless encounters with extraordinary spiritual people.
Ibn `Arabi wrote more than 300 books, of which around 93 have survived to this day. He is best known for his teachings on the unity of being (wahdat al-wujud) and the perfection of man.
Today, his work is becoming increasingly well-known again in the West, where he was born, due to the universal aspect of his thought.