To begin with, let us recall the /J,adltlt which all our…
““To begin with, let us recall the /J,adltlt which all our mysticr of Islam untiringly meditate, the �adltlt in which the Godhead reveals the secret of His passion ( his pathos): "I was a hidden Treasure and I yearned to be known. Then I created creatures in order to be known by them." With still greater fidelity to Ibn rArabi's thought, let us translate: "in order to become in them the object of my knowledge." This divine passion, this desire to reveal Himself and to know Himself in beings through being known by them, is the motive underlying an entire divine dramaturgy, an eternal cosmogony. This cosmogony is neither an Emanation in the Neoplatonic sense of the word nor, still less, a creatio ex niltilo. It is rather a succession of manifestations of being, brought about by an increasing light, within the originally undifferentiated God ; it is a succession of tajalliylit, of theophanies.15 This is the context of one of the most charac- teristic themes of Ibn rArabi's thinking, the doctrine of divine Names ( which has sometimes been termed, rather inexactly, his "mythology" of the divine Names).””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Divine desire to be known drives creation, a series of manifestations rather than a single act of creation.
In simple terms: God wants to be known, so creates beings to know Him.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the relational nature of existence.
Themes
mysticism
theology
creation
knowledge
divine desire
Mood
awe
contemplative
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
spiritual
theological
When to use this quote
- spiritual contemplation
- philosophical study
- interfaith dialogue
- artistic inspiration
Key Concepts
Divine self‑revelation
cosmogony
theophany
Questions to Reflect On
- How does knowing God shape human purpose?
- Can creation be both divine and material?
A Different Perspective
This view may overlook scientific explanations of the universe.