Abstract:
This thesis analyzes four philosophical questions surrounding Ibn al-'Arabi's concept of
the al-iman al-kamil, the Perfect Individual. The Introduction provides a definition of
Sufism, and it situates Ibn al-'Arabi's thought within the broader context of the
philosophy of perfection. Chapter One discusses the transformative knowledge of the
Perfect Individual. It analyzes the relationship between reason, revelation, and intuition,
and the different roles they play within Islam, Islamic philosophy, and Sufism. Chapter
Two discusses the ontological and metaphysical importance of the Perfect Individual,
exploring the importance of perfection within existence by looking at the relationship the
Perfect Individual has with God and the world, the eternal and non-eternal. In Chapter
Three the physical manifestations of the Perfect Individual and their relationship to the
Prophet Muhammad are analyzed. It explores the Perfect Individual's roles as Prophet,
Saint, and Seal. The final chapter compares Ibn al-'Arabi's Perfect Individual to Sir
Muhammad Iqbal's in order to analyze the different ways perfect action can be
conceptualized. It analyzes the relationship between freedom and action.
