The Resources of the Human Spirit - Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi Society

The Resources of the Human Spirit35question with caution, since the observer knows that those whohave followed in the footsteps of such a person have not necessarilyreached the same goals he attained. Thus, the apparentcauses of this man’s success are essential and indispensable, butthey are not enough in themselves. His success is, on the onehand, the result of his effort, and on the other, the consequenceof many different factors and imperceptible circumstances, andthe chances of those same circumstances occurring for othersare slim.In my opinion, the laws which govern success in the materialworld are the mirror of the laws of the spiritual world. As aconsequence, the development of spiritual competence in thehuman heart is not entirely in the hands of a human being, anddivine providence plays an important role. Ibn ¡Arabi says:The path can be completed by actions, but when man arrives at theDoor, he receives what has been designated for him: this is whereGod offers His gifts. Some will receive the nomination of sanctity(walåya), some prophecy (nub¬wa), some envoyship (risåla), andsome envoyship and vicegerency (khilåfa). Others will only receivevicegerency. Those who see how these people attained these designationsonly after following the path to this Door in thought, wordand deed, may conclude that they have earned these nominations,but they are wrong. 51Recognizing that the ultimate objective is beyond humaneffort, we can only examine “the path” which is subject to humaneffort. This human effort can be summarized in the principlesof Sufism, which aims to save the spirit from the imprisonmentof elemental nature by practising asceticism, the refinement ofcharacter and continuous spiritual struggle related to the physicalrealm such as hunger, night prayers, fasting, etc. 52In the Fut¬¢åt Ibn ¡Arabi says:If souls (human spirits) are purified from material impurities, theywill be able to rejoin their own world. Thereafter, they will acquirewhat the superior spirits have acquired, that is, the science of God’s51. Fut. II.272.52. Fut. II.273.