Firmness and Similarity from the Perspective of Ibn Arabi and Allameh Tabatabai

The focus of the present article is on the issues related to the language of religion. One of the important features of the language of religion is the firmness and similarity of the Qur'anic verses. The aim is to reflect on the views of Ibn Arabi and Allameh Tabatabai on these features of the Qur'anic verses. Many experts believe that the firmness and similarity are integral features of Quranic verses. They take the view that similar verses are similar in nature. Knowledge of the true meaning of the similars is out of human knowledge realm and it is in the realm of divine knowledge. Ibn Arabi and Allameh Tabatabai in response to this issue of the language of religion have expressed views which are different from the ones mentioned above. In this article, the views of Ibn Arabi and Allameh Tabatabai about quiddity of the firm and the similar are compared and contrasted. The method adopted is a mixture of the tradition and rational analysis. The conclusions are: first, the relationship between firmness and similarity on the one hand and absolute existence and manifestation in mysticism on the other; second, the intrinsic similarity of the similar verses with reference to the particular interpretation of Ibn Arabi; third, the relative similarity from Allameh Tabatabai’s point of view; fourth, lack of inconsistency between the views of Ibn Arabi and Allmaeh Tabatabai on similarity, intrinsic or relative, and the possibility of their integration.