Malakut
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The realm of Malakut (
The Quran speaks of the malakūt al-samāwāt wa l-arḍ "kingdom of heaven and earth", where the heavenly kingdom represents the ultimate authority of God over the earth.[2][3]
This concept is attested by the writings of al-Ghazali (c. 1058–1111), but limited to epistemological categories of understanding metaphysical realities (spirits, heavens, etc.).[4] Only centuries later, in particular with the Illuministic school of thought (Ishrāqi) and ibn Arabi (1165 – 1240), was it developed into a full ontological concept.[5]: 189
Malakut is sometimes used interchangeably with 'ālam al-mithāl or
Al-Ghazali
In his
Al-Ghazali draws a sharp distinction between the alam al-mulk ("World of Dominion") and the malakut ("World of Sovereignty"). The first is a sensual world of here and now, while the latter an intelligible everlasting world over which God presides, jinn (angels and devils)[8] dwell, and revelation originates. The sensual world appears to be for al-Ghazali mere delusion, and a shadow of the real (haqq) world, which is malakut.[5]: 188 This is comparable to the Quranic divide into dunya (world) and akhira (afterlife).[5]: 188
Suhrawardi and the Imaginal Realm
Suhrawardi's "realm of suspended images" was developed by
Some Shi'i authors refer to alam al-mithal as a continent named Hurqalya. Hurqalya is supposed to lie beyond Mount Qaf, the border of the known world, and is identical with the barzakh in Shaykh Ahmad's cosmological system.[5]: 194
The Imaginal Realm is considered to be a realm where all ideas, thoughts and actions are manifested, including supernatural experiences.[10] Henry Corbin argued that alam al-mithal does not consist of images constructed by the mind, but the imaginative faculties unveil a hidden reality within the imaginal realm.[5]: 193
During sleep, the soul (nafs), is supposed to visit the imaginal realm in dreams.[11]
See also
References
- ^ Corbin, Henry (1977). [ Spiritual Body and Celestial Earth: From Mazdean Iran to Shi'ite Iran]. Princeton University Press.
- ISBN 978-1-317-92933-8.
- ^ Sinai, Nicolai. "Key terms of the Qur'an: a critical dictionary." (2023): 1-840.
- ISBN 978-0-271-04444-6page 259
- ^ ISBN 978-0-521-50637-3.
- ISBN 978-0-815-65070-6page 49
- ISBN 978-0-815-65070-6page 6
- ^ Teuma, E. (1984). More on Qur'anic jinn. Melita Theologica, 35(1-2), 37-45.
- ISBN 978-3-8288-4104-8.
- ISBN 978-8-176-25555-4page 170
- ISBN 978-1-584-77858-5page 234