The Akbarī Madhhab : Ibn ʿArabī’s School of Mercy

This chapter examines in detail the legal principles adopted by Ibn ʿArabī. It shows that Ibn ʿArabī crafted his own unique school of law (madhhab), and shows its key similarities to, and differences from, the Ẓāhirī school. These differences reveal the major underlying differences between the goals of Ibn ʿArabī and the Ẓāhirīs. It then focuses on the main driving forces behind Ibn Arabī’s creation of his own unique approach and the legal principles he chose: his emphasis on divine pardon, divine mercy, pluralism, the principle of original licitness, and ‘the ease principle.’ It also explains his views regarding Taqlīd and Ijtihād.