3.4.4 - The Death of His Father and Mother - (590/1194)

Shortly after he arrived in Seville, the father of Shaykh Muhyiddin and his mother died. We do not know exactly when this happened. We know that his father died on Wednesday at noon time during the year 590/1194, but we do not know what month it was, though it is no doubt that this was at the end of this year which started during his trip to Tunisia.

Shaykh Muhyiddin mentions some of the honors that happened to his father when he died. It seems that his father was also realized in the world of breaths, a state we mentioned in section

ef(hisuncle of Chapter II when talking about his uncle Abdullah Ibn al-Arabi al-Taiy, as well as when talking about the people of Yemen in commenting on the opening poem in section

ef(poem1comments at the end of Chapter I. Shaykh Muhyiddin says that a person with such character is difficult to verify his death from just looking at his face, because he seems as if he is alive. In chapter 35 of the Meccan Revelations, he recalls the day of his father’s death, saying:

I saw this for my father, may God have mercy on him. We buried him in doubt because of what he looked like, in his face, like those who are alive, but he only looked like the dead because he was silent and his veins were still and his breath interrupted. Fifteen days before that, he told me of his death and that he dies on Wednesday, and so it was.

When he was in the day of his death, and he was very ill, he settled seated without support, and said to me: “My son, today it is time to leave (you) and meet (my Lord).” I said: “May God secure your safety in this journey, and bless you in this meeting.” So he rejoiced and said to me: “May God reward you, my son, for good on my behalf. Everything I heard you saying - of that which I did not know, and maybe I used to deny some of it -, here now I am witnessing.”

After that, it appeared on his forehead a white shining spot, different from the color of his body, and without illness, with a shimmering light, which he felt. Then that shine spread on his face until it pervaded all his body; I kissed him and said goodbye, going out to the mosque, and I said to him: “I walk to the grand mosque until I hear the announcement.” He said to me: “Go, and let no one enter onto me.” He then gathered his family and daughters.

At noontime, I received the announcement, then I came to him and I found him on this state of suspicion; the beholder could not decide if he is alive or dead, and on that state (of doubt) we buried him. He had a great scene. Glory to the One Who bestows His mercy upon whom He will of His servants. Those with such state, their life and death are indifferent.

[Futuhat: I.222].

As anticipated, the death of his father increased his family commitments, and he now needs to take care of his two sisters who became orphaned. In section

ef(al-adawi of Chapter II, when we mentioned his Shaykh Salih al-Adawi, we showed how Shaykh Muhyiddin benefited from the spiritual grace of al-Adawi who foretold him many things that will come to path with him after the death of his father.

As he explained in al-Durrah al-Fakhirah, the Shaykh asked him whether his sisters were married, and he replied that they are unmarried but that the eldest was promised to the Prince Abu al-’Ala’ Ibn Ghazun. The Shaykh then told him that this will not happen, because both his father and the Prince Ibn GHazun will die, and that his family will try to persuade him to care for them and leave the Way, as we explained in that section

ef(al-adawi of Chapter II.

Ibn al-Arabi then adds that before the end of the same year the Amir died before his marriage with the eldest sister could be consummated. In due course his family tried to persuade him to leave the Way and try to earn a living for his dependents. His cousin came to him with great kindness and begged him to return to the world for the sake of the family. In reply he recited to him two verses which he had composed on the spur of the moment:

They bade me turn aside from the Way of God and I replied, How can I leave the Way when the Friend has said,

After the morning light of the Reality, what is there but the dark night of error. Thus I cannot do what you ask of me.

Shaykh Muhyiddin then adds: Six years after that, my mother died, and the Shaykh (al-Adawi) had also died.

However, the Prince of the Faithful (Abu Yaqoub Yusuf) wanted me to enter his service. To this end he sent to me the late Chief Justice Yaqoub Abu al-Qasim Ibn Taqi. He had told the judge to meet with me alone and not to attempt to force my hand if I refused his suggestion. When he came and put the proposition to me, I refused, the Shaykh’s words ringing in my ears. Then I met the Prince and he inquired about my two sisters who were in need of protection. I told him of their situation. He then offered to find suitable husbands for them, to which I replied that I would look after the matter myself. On hearing this he told me that I was being too hasty and that he had a duty towards them. He then called his door-keeper and bade him, with some insistence, to inform him, by day or night, when my reply should come. Not long after I had left the Prince he sent a messenger after me to repeat his offer with respect to my two sisters. I thanked the messenger, but left almost at once with my family and a paternal cousin for Fez. After a few days the Caliph asked Abu al-Qasim Ibn Nadir about me. He told him that I had gone with my family to Fez. At this the Caliph repeated the saying, “Glory be to God.” When we had settled in Fez I married off my two sisters and was thus relieved of their charge. Thereafter the Shaykh’s spiritual grace returned to me and I came to Mecca. This is one of the instances of the Shaykh’s spiritual graces [al-Durrah al-Fakhirah].