The Spirituality of Prophet Muḥammad in the Thought of Aḥmad Ibn ‘Ajība

Abstract

Aḥmad Ibn ‘Ajība (d. 1224/1809) is one of the prominent Sufi mystics who lived in Morocco during the 13th/ 17th century. His importance in Sufi scholarship is due to him being one of the original Sufi scholars who contributed immensely to elucidating ambiguous Sufi concepts that were enigmatic by nature and only accessed by Sufi adepts. In this article Ibn ‘Ajība’s esoteric interpretation of the Quranic verses addressing Prophet Muhammad’s spirituality and his divinely lofty status are studied in detail. In his commentary, Ibn ‘Ajība emphasizes on different themes related to prophetic spirituality. The article starts by discussing the spiritual fatherhood of Prophet Muhammad as he is considered the seed of existence. This theme leads to exploring the famous concept of the Muhammadan light and how the light of Prophet Muhammad was the first to be created and out of which stems the light of different beings who had their shares of the Prophetic light according to their degree of proximity to God and their spiritual readiness. Prophetic mercy is also discussed in detail along with its relationship with the Prophetic ethical character. Ibn ‘Ajība further explains that if the All-Merciful had a son, then it would be Prophet Muhammad who is the most entitled of this affinity because he is the first who worshipped God in pre-eternity as his light was the first thing to appear in existence. Ibn ‘Ajība presents to us another aspect of the prophetic spirituality which is mercy and how all prophets were created from mercy and Prophet Muhammad was the heart of mercy. The great ethical manners that were bestowed upon Prophet Muhammad was discussed in a separate theme and was used by Ibn ‘Ajība as an evidence of divine election (khuṣūṣiyya). Many more themes of Prophetic spirituality are discussed in detail along with the opinions of two of the most influential Sufi scholars, Abū al-Qāsim al-Qushayrī and Rūzbihān al- Baqlī al- Shīrāzī, who both left an indelible impact on Ibn ‘Ajība’s Quranic commentary.