Al Jilli The Best Interpreter of Ibn Arabi

 

Al Jilli The Best Interpreter of Ibn Arabi

Al Jilli is known as one of the mysterious Sufis. However, his works are still the subject of discussion. One of the most frequently discussed is Insan Kamil.

Al Jilli is known to be very detailed about our people. There is even a work that discusses this, namely Al-Insanul Kamil. His work has until now become a reference material for followers of the tarekat.

Insan Kamil or perfect human is the highest spiritual degree and is the dream of every Muslim. Humans will feel their authenticity when they enter this degree. Full name Abdul Karim ibn Ibrahim ibn Khalifah ibn Ahmad ibn Mahmud al-Jilli, his life is very mysterious.

When was born and died historians differ in opinion. According to the Sufi scholar Ignaz Goldziher, Al-Jilli was born in a village near Baghdad called Al-Jil – which is later attributed to his name. But another Sufi observer, Nicholson, considers Al-Jilli to be interpreted as kinship, descent. Jil or Jilan indicates he is descended from the Jilan people, an area in the Baghdad region.

According to Al-Jilli, his lineage is connected from the granddaughter of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jailani. But some scholars and Sufi observers agree, Al-Jilli was born in the month of Muharram in 767 H in Baghdad, Iraq. However, regarding the death of Sufi scholars and observers – such as At-Taftazani, AJ. Arberry and Umar Rida Kahahlah – disagree.

Al Jilli studied religions ranging from Persia, Yemen to India. In Yemen he met a great Sufi who had the most influence on him, namely Syarafudin bin Ismail al-Jabarti. In the year 799 H al-Jili arrived in the city of Mecca. In this city he met with Sufism leaders at the Masjid al-Haram.

In this place also al-Jili did self-forging (al-Mujahadah) with great discipline. It doesn't stay in one place but moves around. If his whereabouts are known, al Jilli immediately moves. In hiding, he studied languages, the Qur'an and ancient religions which he later put into a critical book.

Experts call Abdul Karim al-Jilli as an interpreter, the best interpreter of Sheikh Muhyidin Ibn Arabi's thoughts. This was influenced by his teacher Syarafudin bin Ismail al-Jabarti, one of the followers of Ibn Arabi's philosophical Sufism. Al Jili's works also provoke debate. It was even burned by the literal fiqoha circles.

There is an interesting saga about the book Insan Kamil by Al Jilli. But one day a faqih named Ibn Amir was sick for a year and a half. Various drugs have been tried but not cured. Until finally a fiqh expert came to visit him and brought us Insan Kamil. The book is then burned to cook white bread. Strangely, ibn Amir's illness was cured because he made medicine by using the two books to cook it.

Wallahu A'lam.