Divine Feminine and Sacred Eros: The Unthā in the Teachings of Ibn 'Arabi

DESCRIPTION

The Divine Feminine and Sacred Eros: The Female (Unthā) in the Teachings of Ibn al-ʿArabī, taught by Dr. Hany T. Ibrahim. Offered for the first time through MIAS UK, this six-week online course unveils a profound and long-overlooked dimension of Ibn al-ʿArabī’s teachings—one that reshapes how we understand gender, beauty, and the very architecture of Divine manifestation. Grounded in the Fuṣūṣ al-Ḥikam —especially the Faṣṣ on the Prophet Muḥammad, where Ibn al-ʿArabī affirms that the contemplation of God in woman is the most perfect and complete form of witnessing—this course explores sacred eros not as sentiment, but as the generative tension through which Being unfolds into form. Participants will engage symbolic readings of Ḥawwāʾ (Eve), Āsiyā, Maryam (Mary), Khadīja, and Fāṭima as poles of emergence, birthing, veiling, sustaining, and resistance—each a mirror of the Real in her own metaphysical register. This course is a radical re-encounter with the sacred feminine as a structural principle of Divine self-disclosure in the cosmology of the Greatest Master. Readings from the Fuṣūṣ al-Ḥikam, the Futūḥāt al-Makkiyya, and other writings of the Shaykh al-Akbar, alongside contemporary reflection, will be paired with live discussion in an immersive setting designed for deep inquiry and personal transformation. Open to all backgrounds, this is a rare opportunity to access the symbolic grammar at the heart of Sufi metaphysics—one that may change how you understand both love and the Divine.

Who is the course for?

This course is ideal for anyone with an interest in Sufism, particularly those drawn to the teachings of Ibn ʿArabī.

Course overview.

The course comprises 6 x 1.5 hour sessions online between Friday, January 16/2026 and Friday, February 20/2026.

The course starts at 5:30 pm (17.30) London Time and finishes at 7:00pm (19:00) London time (BST)

In all of our courses, we strive to create space for creativity and personal expression, allowing participants to engage with the material not only intellectually but also imaginatively and reflectively. Each journey opens the door to inner exploration through writing, art, or contemplation. You can view examples of creative responses from previous courses here:

Examples of Creative Encounters with Ibn Arabi from previous courses

https://ibnarabiencounters.wordpress.com/category/journey-to-heaven-if-not-for-him-and-if-not-for-us/

For more details on the programme overview, feedback and the education team please go to the Ibn Arabi Society website below.

MIAS education