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Ibn ʿArabī's Encounters with Khiḍr
Among all the remarkable figures associated with Ibn Arabī, none is more fascinating than Khiḍr. In Islamic tradition, Khiḍr is the mysterious servant of God mentioned in Surah al-Kahf (18:60–82), where he guides Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ (Moses) through a series of events that reveal the limits of human understanding and the hidden wisdom of God’s decree.
In Al-Futūḥāt al-Makkiyya (The Meccan Revelations)—specifically in Chapter 25 and related autobiographical passages—Ibn ‘Arabi records three distinct physical/visionary encounters with the immortal spiritual guide Al-Khidr (Khizer).
- The First Encounter: Seville (Submission to the Master)
- The Second Encounter: The Bay of Tunis (Walking on Water)
- The Third Encounter: Near Cadiz (Convincing the Skeptic)
Ibn Arabi meets Ibn Rushd
The meeting between Ibn Arabī and Ibn Rushd (Averroes) is one of the most celebrated encounters in Islamic intellectual history.
- The First Encounter: The "Yes and No" (Cordoba, ~1184 CE)
- The Second Encounter: The Veil in Khayāl (Visionary Realm)
- The Third Encounter: The Funeral and the Books (1198 CE)
Shihāb al-Dīn ʿUmar al-Suhrawardī (1145–1234), the celebrated Sufi master of Baghdad and author of ʿAwārif al-Maʿārif, was a contemporary of Ibn ʿArabī, and later Sufi sources preserve the famous account that the two met.
According to the tradition:
Ibn ʿArabī and Shihāb al-Dīn ʿUmar al-Suhrawardī sat facing one another in silence. Neither spoke a single word. After some time, they rose, exchanged farewells, and each went his own way.
When observers later asked about the meeting, it is said that each expressed great respect for the other. The silence itself became the message.
In Sufi literature, this encounter symbolizes something profound: there are moments when two realized souls communicate beyond words. Their mutual recognition did not require debate or explanation because each perceived the other’s spiritual state directly.
I call these four meetings “Windows” bringing specific light into Ibn ʿArabī’s World.
- Ibn Rushd → Reason
- Shihāb al-Dīn ʿUmar al-Suhrawardī → Silence and Spiritual Recognition
- Khiḍr → Guidance
- Rūmī → Love
It also creates a beautiful progression:
- Reabson speaks.
- Wisdom is silent.
- Guidance appears.
- Love sings.
Ibn Arabi meets Shihāb al-Dīn ʿUmar al-Suhrawardī
