23/08/2026
Women share with men all spiritual stations, even that of Supreme Polehood (al-Qutbiyya).
God created human beings as an honorable, condensed form, gathering within them the realities of the macrocosm. He made the human being a comprehensive copy of everything contained in the vast universe and of the Divine Names within the Divine Presence.
Regarding this, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings of God be upon him) said:
"Indeed, God created Adam in His image."
Because the Complete Human (al-Insān al-Kāmil) embodies this complete image, they are rightfully suited for vicegerency (al-Khilāfa) and representation on behalf of God Almighty in the universe. Thus, through essential humanity and vicegerency, the complete image belongs to them.
Not every human being is a vicegerent, for the mere "animal-human" is not a vicegerent according to us. Nor is this privilege restricted solely to masculinity. Our discussion concerns the image of the Complete One among both men and women, as essential humanity (al-insāniyya) encompasses both male and female. Masculinity and femininity are merely accidental qualities; they are not part of the essential reality of humanity, as all animals share in them.
The Messenger of God (peace and blessings of God be upon him) testified to perfection in women just as he testified to it in men, saying:
“Many among men reached perfection, and among women, Mary the daughter of 'Imran and Asiya the wife of Pharaoh reached perfection.”
When one of the saints was asked about the Substitute Saints (al-Abdāl):
“How many are they?” He replied: “Forty souls.”
The questioner asked: “Why do you not say forty men?”
He replied: “Because there may be women among them.”
Thus, the distinction of man is through greater completeness, not through perfection itself. If both achieve perfection through prophethood, the man is distinguished through messengership and divine mission, whereas women do not hold the rank of divine mission and messengership. Nevertheless, even within a single shared spiritual rank, degrees of precedence occur among those who occupy it.
Women and men share in all spiritual stations, even in Supreme Polehood (al-Qutbiyya). Do not be veiled by the saying of the Messenger of God (peace and blessings of God be upon him):
“A people who entrust their command to a woman will not succeed.”
For we are speaking of God’s appointment, not human appointment—and the Hadith refers to those appointed by people.
Even if there were no other statement from the Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) on this matter besides his words:
“Indeed, women are the full counterparts (shaqā'iq) of men,”
it would be entirely sufficient. That is: whatever spiritual stations, ranks, and attributes are possible for a man to attain are likewise possible for whichever woman God wills, just as they are for whichever man God wills.
— Ibn 'Arabi
(Uqlat al-Mustawfiz, pp. 88–89)
