A Critical Analysis of Ibn al- Arabi's Views on Femininity and Gender Issues

Among the sources on Tasawwuf، the works of Ibn al-‘Arabi especially hold femininity in high regard. The present study is to illustrate that beyond the transcendental view of Ibn al-‘Arabi to woman، there are some prominent traces of binary oppositions that، according to Hélèn Cixous، culminate in different reactions to feminine and masculine roles and ultimately lead to the appearance of patriarchal atmosphere. In the first part of the article، some ontological concepts are examined to delineate Ibn al-‘Arabi’s attitude towards femininity. In the following sections، his positive and negative perspectives on woman، which are the representation of his viewpoint towards gender characteristics، are analyzed. Besides، in the analyses، the change of masculine concepts to metaphysical ones in Ibn al-‘Arabi’ s view is shown.