Ibn al-ʿArabī's understanding of taʾwīl and the use of Rur'anic verses as istidlāl in the metaphysics of Waḥdat Al-Wujūd

The question of what method should be followed in understanding divine word forms the foundation of the problem of interpretation (ta'wil). The exegesis (tafsir) activity, which relies on Qur'anic sciences, transmitted materials (riwayat), and the study of language and rhetoric (balāghah), forms the foundation for understanding divine speech. However, it does not eliminate the need for a more comprehensive and encompassing interpretative approach to establish a dynamic relationship between the text and reality. In this context, it is possible to speak of the existence of different ta'wil systems developed within the Islamic intellectual tradition. The theory of Unity of Being (Wahdat al-Wujūd) developed by Ibn Arabi, on the one hand, aimed to explain the relationship between God and the universe, and on the other hand, it emerged with the claim to provide a holistic perspective in understanding both the great scripture, the universe, and its sample, the human being, and ultimately the original scripture, the Qur'an. This study aims to examine Ibn Arabi's understanding of interpretation (ta'wil) both theoretically and practically within the context of his works al-Futūḥāt al-Makkiyya and Fusūs al-Hikam. In this context, the first section is devoted to the topics of existence and knowledge, which form the foundation for understanding Ibn Arabi's metaphysics. The second section focuses on the issue of interpretation within Ibn Arabi's metaphysics of the Unity of Being (Wahdat al-Wujūd) and is the part where the main problem of the thesis is addressed. As for the third section, it examines the extent to which Ibn Arabi adhered to the theoretical background he presented, through examples with high representational capacity. Thus, the extent to which he adhered to the limits of language and signification while interpreting the verses in light of his metaphysical thought will be revealed.