The Culmination of History in the School of Ibn ʿArabī with the Nominal Manifestations of the Prophets

The study of Islam, especially from the mystical point of view, reflects the fact that history, like the phenomena of the world, is purposefully evolving towards a monotheistic world community, coming back to Divinity. Its path is disposed to ups and downs in terms of its creaturely aspect (human free will) and is constantly perfecting in terms of its Divine aspect. With a descriptive-analytical method, this research studies the quality of this change from Ibn ʿArabī’s point of view. In his view, the manifestation of the Divine Essence is from behind the veil of Names, creation is formed by the system of Names, and society is subject to this system either. Due to the difference between Names in generality and particularity, their manifestations become different. Society, in its evolution, is moving towards the most general Names, and its main driving force in terms of its Divine aspect is the prophets. According to Ibn ʿArabī, it is the prophets and their trustees who can establish the Ideal City. The most important periods of history are formed by Arch-Prophets, and each prophet, due to his specific rank, promotes the society to the manifestation of his Name. The Seal of the Prophets is the manifestation of the all-comprehensive Name of Allah. By the sealing of the prophethood, the period of guardianship (manifestation of the inner secrets of religion) begins and gradually moves towards the sealing of the guardianship and the ideal society.