Idris (AS) in Ibn Arabi's al-Futuhāt al-Makkiyyah and Fusus al-Hikam

The present research is an attempt to carry out a study of the ontological levels of the Prophet Idris (AS) with special references to Ibn Arabi's al-Futuhat al-Makkiyyah and Fusus al-Hikam. Ibn Arabi's esoteric method is based on his doctrine of the oneness of being which is built on unveiling, the Quranic verses, traditions, as well as relevant reports on Idris (AS). In his Fusus al-Hikam, Ibn Arabi seeks to give a new reading of the subject by analyzing Idris's spiritual states. He maintains that Idris (AS) succeeded in attaining the status of sanctification, which implies the intensity of Idris's detachment. Through undergoing certain tough ascetic measures, he turned out to be the representative of the pure intellect. Ibn Arabi identifies Idris (AS) with Ilias (AS). He considers that Ilias (AS) is the ascending journey of the prophet Idris (AS). Ilias (AS) is both one of the messengers and one of the Muhammaduns (community of Muhammad), so he will return in the hereafter. Therefore, Idris(AS)-Ilias(AS) represent both prophethood and messengerhood which, in individual form of mortal, Idris ascends to the heaven and, after his ascension, he returns in the individual form of Ilias. Thus, he enjoys two resurrections: once in the garb of prophethood and once in the garb of a guardian among the guardians of Muhammad. However, in this case, Ibn Arabi expresses different views; that is, at times, he considers Idris and Ilias as two persons who act as two pillars out of four pillars of Kabah and, in the hereafter, they appear as poles or Imams. As for his other stations, one can refer to Abdāl and Awtād, which in the former station he appears as Idris while in the latter he turns out to be Ilias.