v» fT^V 3^- b An Analysis ofIbn al-'Arabi's al-Insan al-Kamil, the Perfect Individual, with a Brief Comparison to the Thought ofSir Muhammad Iqbal Rebekah Zwanzig, Master ofArts Philosophy Submitted in partial fulfillment ofthe requirements forthe degree of Master ofArts Faculty ofPhilosophy, Brock University St. Catharines, Ontario © May, 2008 JAMESAGffiSONLIBRARY BROCKUNIVERSITY CATHARINES ON ST. 'I I,,>-•• Abstract: This thesis analyzes four philosophical questions surrounding Ibn al-'Arabi's concept of the al-iman al-kamil, the Perfect Individual. The Introduction provides a definition of Sufism, and it situates Ibn al-'Arabi's thought within the broader context ofthe philosophy ofperfection. Chapter One discusses the transformative knowledge ofthe Perfect Individual. It analyzes the relationship between reason, revelation, and intuition, and the different roles they play within Islam, Islamic philosophy, and Sufism. Chapter Two discusses the ontological and metaphysical importance ofthe Perfect Individual, exploring the importance ofperfection within existence by looking at the relationship the Perfect Individual has with God and the world, the eternal and non-eternal. In Chapter Three the physical manifestations ofthe Perfect Individual and their relationship to the Prophet Muhammad are analyzed. It explores the Perfect Individual's roles as Prophet, Saint, and Seal. The final chapter compares Ibn al-'Arabi's Perfect Individual to Sir Muhammad Iqbal's in order to analyze the different ways perfect action can be conceptualized. It analyzes the relationship between freedom and action. \ ^1 Table of Contents "i I. Introduction 4 .. \. II. Chapter One 17 .».t;'^ III. Chapter Two 38 ."i^Ti • : -;->:- ' .:. • . .!.,i:,,; ,<•>. IV. Chapter Three 57 .y. r'l'Ui V. Chapter Four 75 :»./f >. .;-.' , i VI. Conclusion 97 — VII. Bibliography- 101 'i- '^-i'j rv'.-.; ilr. .,.'• ir "V- „> >: ;:--^% •! 'i^>f,'M^ ,,.!., .?,|v-..- ,e.' : '.v '\'V)i-..: U^ 'V! U :''•' ..'fi :..-:: .'•?;.,•, ^'.^:i.l'!^1(yh'Vi'i .*' '*«.'• ' •'. i ' t d ': • :<' s(. !"• V.