Research Information System
Darulfunun Ilahiyat, vol.36, no.3, pp.587-612, 2025 (Scopus, TRDizin)
This article explores Ibn al-’Arabī’s views on the distinction between the Divine Essence and the attribute of divinity (ulūhiyya), with particular emphasis on the relative dimension of the latter. Essence refers to God’s absolute and self-sufficient existence. The term ‘Ilāh’ (Deity), on the other hand, signifies God as the One who is worshipped and to whom creation turns. These two concepts are fundamentally different: Essence is absolute and exists independently, whereas divinity (ulūhiyyah) implies a relationship—it becomes manifest meaning only when someone recognises and worships God as such. The Ilāh is the one who is worshipped, while the Ma’lūh is the one who acknowledges and turns towards the Ilāh. For God to be known as Ilāh, there must be a Ma’lūh to recognise Him. Similarly, the Ma’lūh turns towards God. The human being is God’s Ma’lūh, while the cosmos is the Ma’lūh of the human—meaning that humans interact with the universe, recognise it, and derive knowledge through it. The name “Allah” does not refer to the Essence itself but rather to the aspect of God known through His names and attributes. According to Ibn Arabi, the first stage of recognising God as the divine involves contemplating the world, including one’s own soul.