A comparative study of the views of Rumi and Ibn Arabi on the state of observation and certainty

‘Observation and certainty’ is a mystical condition. Mystics observe the intuitions of manifestations and confidently call the proof of the truth of things, without any doubt (certainty). In this comparative study, the authors, while examining the type of Ibn Arabi and Rumi's perception of the mystical state of ‘observation’ and ‘certainty’, have revealed the common and different thoughts, beliefs, and experiences of these two scholars in the field of Sufism and Islamic mysticism. This study is based on the descriptive-analytical method, explaining the commonalities and structural and general differences. The results of the study show that Ibn Arabi and Rumi use observation in relation to manifestation. They believe that observation is about observing the manifestations of God, not God himself. However, Ibn Arabi presents a different discussion of revelation and believes that revelation is higher than observation. In describing the first and second levels of certainty, Rumi presents two aspects of knowledge and insight, and both thinkers believe that it is certain that man has some vision and insight. Moreover, the last point regarding ‘certainty’ is when God puts the mystic in the essence of the work and in the occurrence of a mandatory sentence. Ibn Arabi tries not to step outside the scope of Shari'a in explaining certainty. That is why, in his view, certainty has a religious and mystical value, the condition of which depends on worship.