From One Quthb to Another

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

Shaykh ‘Ali ibn Muhammad ath-Tha’i (q.s.) of Spain had no children.  Whilst in a state of majdzub, he approached the Ghawts al-A’azham, Shaykh Muhyi ad-Din Abu Muhammad ibn Abu Swalih ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (q.s.) for his blessings and prayers for a son. 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (q.s.) said, “I have one more son yet unborn in my destiny.  I give it to you.  Rub your back against mine and name him when born, ‘Muhammad Muhyi ad-Din.’  He would rise up to be a quthb of his time.” 

That child, Shaykh Muhyi ad-Din Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn ‘Arabi (q.s.), was eventually born and was named accordingly.  He became a great philosopher and attained high spiritual Advancement. He gained the title of “Shaykh al-Akbar” and is commonly known as Shaykh ibn Arabi (q.s.).