The ontological and social status of Women in Ibn Arabi’s work and life

Abstract

This article deals with the works and life of the Great Master: Ibn Arabi. It tries 
to explore his works and life with a modern lens. His ideas about women their 
ontological and social status have been discussed along with scriptural 
references. Ibn Arabi has a distinct stance regarding females and their 
ontological status, as compared to other traditional Sufis who endorse the 
fundamentalist and conservative tenets about women and their status. He has 
different ideas about controversial problems like Purdah in Islam and 
competency of women in society as Imam and the spiritual teacher. He offers 
novel, dynamic and contextual solutions of these legal and fiqh issues. It also 
focuses on the modern feminist discourse by engaging with Islamic feminism 
which helps us redefining the status of women in Islamic thought. Along with this 
it sheds light on the relationship of the Great Prophet (S A W) with women as 
described by Ibn Arabi because he is the greatest inspiration of Ibn Arabi’s 
works. It is an exploration of Ibn Arabi as the alternative theorist of gender 
relations in the Islamic sociological and philosophical thought by applying the 
dynamic framework of Islamic feminism. His own spiritual and life journey is a 
great inspiration and example for the Islamic intellectual tradition. So, his 
biographical analysis shows his relationship with the women of his times. It gives 
a sketch of his practical engagement with promoting gender equality.