Unveiling

Unveiling is the hallmark of Ibn al-‘Arabi’s metaphysics and the established methodology of the prophets and saints. Since epistemology is the theory or discipline that investigates the origin, nature, methods and limits of knowledge, Sufi epistemology relates to the various types of unveiling, such as witnessing, tasting, theophany, inspiration, revelation, clairvoyance and intuition. As all knowledge is derived from God’s knowledge, rational disciplines and even the sciences that relate to this world can be acquired through unveiling. Unveiling is a type of spiritual experience that secures direct knowledge of realities, gained immediately and effortlessly. There are various types of unveiling according to the ascending degrees of immateriality. The truest unveilings occur at the degree of the heart, for it is the wellspring of gnosis and understanding. The heart possesses a vision, hearing and awareness. Inspiration imparts meanings of Unseen realities without witnessing.