Anwar-e Ma`rifat

In Hayy ibn-e- Yaqdhan treatise, which is a description of the life of an imaginary man who was born and developed on an island near the equator, Ibn-e- Tofeil sheds light on the course of human development including the sensory stage the rational stage and then the stage of intuition. According to Ibn-e- Tofeil’s view, although intellect and intuition have the same outcome, intuitive knowledge is more obvious and distinct, and consequently, provides great pleasure. He holds that intuitive knowledge cannot be gained except through a mystical and spiritual journey, and Hayy ibn-e- Yaqdhan, which based on his own intellect and nature, acknowledges the necessity and manner of mystical journey. Accordingly, after passing through the mystical stages, the mystic reaches unity. Ibn-e- Tof eil however, notices this unity is not in contrast with multiplicity, because it is one of the characteristics of objects. In his intuition, the mystic faces a reality which is beyond description. Finally, Ibn-e- Tufail examines the relationship between these observable facts and Divine law.