The Manifestations of the Divine Names Upon the Universe According to Ibn al-‘Arabî: Some Problems Arising From the Issue of Relationship Between God and the Universe

In this essay, we tried tp deal with the problem of the relationship between God and the uni-verse and the central role of the divine names and attributes in this issue within the context of Ibn al-‘Arabî’s thought. We have also tried to address the concept of the barzakh (the li-mit), which provides remarkable possibilities to explain the issue of the relationship between God and the universe, as one of the central themes in Ibn al-‘Arabi’s thought. There are many different barzakhs in metaphysical, ontological and epistemological levels in Ibn al-‘Arabi’s thought. Divine names are the barzakh or isthmus between The Divine Essence and the cosmos. The isthmus of the divine names or the divinity, on the one hand refers to the truth of transcendentality of the Divine Essence, its unknowability and incomparability, on the other hand it refers to His proximity to the universe and His similarity. According to Ibn al-‘Arabî, the relationship between God and the universe is not something limited to the ti-me of creation and took place only once. It is a live, continuous and dynamic relationship. He refers to this point as the everlastingness of the divine manifestation and constant re-newal of creation.

Keywords

Divine Essence, Divine Names, Barzakh (Isthmus), Universe, anthropomorphism (tashbih), transcendentalism (tanzih), Manifestation (Tajalli).