Analysis of Mystical Veil from Ibn Arabi's Perspective

Mystical veil is regarded as one of the significant subjects in first and second mystical traditions. Ibn Arabi, the seventh-century mystic, attempts to assert existence of mystical veil through verses and Hadiths. He sees the existence of universe as a result of Names and manifestation of features of God. God's Names and features turn as a veil between God and the servant. These veils cause a void in knowing and comprehending God, they are also impossible to be eliminated in terms of knowing the existence view. Because this reveals the unity nature of God and as a result, it leads to the destruction of possibilities. Meanwhile, in terms of the Path, passing the stations and states, wayfarer can unveil these covers and achieve God's intimacy. Veil elimination leads a wayfarer to unveil and gain knowledge of hidden affairs and inspirations of the heart which cause his knowledge of God. Therefore, veils related to knowing knowledge eliminated through the Path, and veils based on knowing the existence through the knowledge. Thus, veil in first mystic tradition is regarded as an imperfection and the wayfarer should consider its elimination. However, in the second mystic tradition, veil is a reality which has effects on the existence of the world order and it is considered as the perfect plenitude. Eliminating veil has no sense in this regard and it is just traverse in veils and passing from one veil to the other one. According to the importance of Ibn Arabi's categorization in different veils and their eliminations, there is a need to have a descriptive-analysis investigation on mystic veil and decipher the apparent disparities in his thought system.