Abd-al-karim Jili
Encyclopedia
Abd al-Karīm al-Jīlī, or Abdul Karim Jili, was a Muslim
sufi saint
and mystic
who was born in 1366 at Jil
in Baghdad
. He is famous in Muslim
mysticism
as the author of Universal Man
.
Jili was a descendant of Saint Gilani, the founder of the Qadiriyya
dervish
order. Although little is known about his life, historians have noted that Jili travelled in India
and lived in Yemen
from 1393 to 1403. He wrote more than twenty books, of which Universal Man
is the best known.
Jili was the foremost systematizer and one of the greatest exponents of the work of Ibn Arabi
. Universal Man
is an explanation of Ibn Arabi’s teachings on the structure of reality and human perfection. Since it was written, it has been held up as one of the masterpieces of Sufi literature
. Jili conceived of the Absolute Being as a Self, a line of thinking which later influenced the 20th century Indian Muslim
philosopher and poet
Allama Iqbal.
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
sufi saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
and mystic
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
who was born in 1366 at Jil
Jil
Jil may refer to:* Java Intermediate Language* Jil, Armenia* University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law - a scholarly journal focusing on issues of international law....
in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. He is famous in Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
mysticism
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
as the author of Universal Man
Universal Man
In 1987 it was moved from its site during the construction of SkyDome, and was not replaced reportedly due to lack of space in the area. This, and the damage inflicted on the statue during moving, infuriated Gladstone...
.
Jili was a descendant of Saint Gilani, the founder of the Qadiriyya
Qadiriyya
The Qadiriyya , are members of the Qadiri Sufi order...
dervish
Dervish
A Dervish or Darvesh is someone treading a Sufi Muslim ascetic path or "Tariqah", known for their extreme poverty and austerity, similar to mendicant friars in Christianity or Hindu/Buddhist/Jain sadhus.-Etymology:The Persian word darvīsh is of ancient origin and descends from a Proto-Iranian...
order. Although little is known about his life, historians have noted that Jili travelled in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and lived in Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
from 1393 to 1403. He wrote more than twenty books, of which Universal Man
Universal Man
In 1987 it was moved from its site during the construction of SkyDome, and was not replaced reportedly due to lack of space in the area. This, and the damage inflicted on the statue during moving, infuriated Gladstone...
is the best known.
Jili was the foremost systematizer and one of the greatest exponents of the work of Ibn Arabi
Ibn Arabi
Ibn ʿArabī was an Andalusian Moorish Sufi mystic and philosopher. His full name was Abū 'Abdillāh Muḥammad ibn 'Alī ibn Muḥammad ibn `Arabī .-Biography:...
. Universal Man
Universal Man
In 1987 it was moved from its site during the construction of SkyDome, and was not replaced reportedly due to lack of space in the area. This, and the damage inflicted on the statue during moving, infuriated Gladstone...
is an explanation of Ibn Arabi’s teachings on the structure of reality and human perfection. Since it was written, it has been held up as one of the masterpieces of Sufi literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
. Jili conceived of the Absolute Being as a Self, a line of thinking which later influenced the 20th century Indian Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
philosopher and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
Allama Iqbal.