A Study of the Influence of Ibn Arabi's Views about Sainthood (Velayat) on Sheikh Mahmud Shabestari's Golshan-e Raz

Ibn Arabi with his progressive mysticism reproduced the heritage of the previous great masters of Sufism in such a way that he is considered the forefather of the majority of mystical theologians and thinkers even up to the present time. The scope of his influence, from his own time to the appearance of Shiite mystics and theoreticians of the Safavid and the Qajar periods as well as contemporary thinkers is the evidence to the greatness of his soul and views. One of the most important aspects of Ibn Arabi's views in theoretical mysticism is on Sainthood (velayat) which can be divided into before and after Ibn Arabi. It is obvious that Sheikh Mahmud Shabestari's views in Golshan-e Raz is a continuation of the Ibn Arabi's tradition and his commentators such as Qaysari and Kashani. This paper is a study of the influence of Muhy al-Din Ibn Arabi's instructions on the views of Sheikh Shabastari about Sainthood and perfect man in Golestan-e Raz. Thus it is a comparative study of the views of Ibn Arabi and Sheikh Mahmud; and some inferences are made from other commentators of Ibn Arabi and mystics before him.