Divine Madness as Seen by Ibn Arabi

Muhyeddin Ibn Arabi, one of the greatest theorists and founder of monismschool of thought in Islamic mysticism, has discussed in details in the twenty thirdchapter of the fourth section of his book titled Futuhat Makkiah under the title ofFil Bahalil va Aemmatehem Fil Bahlelah about the divine madness and theirdelicate behavior. Ibn Arabi in his book calls them Bahaleil and their madness istaken to be from the sudden emergence of the unknown world. In his view, thedominance of such an emergence has caused them so intoxicated that made theirever ascension of their rationality to the spiritual world, however, without theirtactfulness of cognition, God makes them talk wisely. The smashing of themountain- like hearts of these people is caused by the manifestation of the divinegrace just like the Fainted Moses due to the manifestation of God on the Mountainas well as the same panic coming to the Prophet Muhammad at the outset of thedivine revelation.