The Relationship between Soul and Body in Ibn Arabi's View

In elaborating on how human intellective soul which has a rational identity is related to corporeal body, Ibn 'Arabi propounds the idea that "man's imaginal stage" and "vaporous spirit" represent two linking bridges which have the duty of mediating between soul and body. There is not so much difference between Ibn 'Arabi's view and that of other philosophers about vaporous spirit, but the very idea of proving the existence of imaginal stage for man and demonstrating its role in establishing the relationship between intellective soul and corporeal body is one of the valuable innovations which has no record in the theories and sayings of those who preceded Ibn 'Arabi. He uses such terms and expressions as "animal soul" and "animal spirit" to refer to man's imaginal stage. The present paper tries to shed light on some of mystic's views on the relationship between soul and body by investigating Ibn 'Arabi's view on the issue.