A region connected to al-Andalus
Crossing the sea did not initially mean a final departure. Ibn al-ʿArabī travelled repeatedly between al-Andalus and North Africa. The Shams chronology records Ceuta, Fez, Tlemcen, Tunis and Marrakesh among his destinations. Hadith study, visits to teachers, personal relationships and reported spiritual experiences overlap in these journeys.
Al-Mahdawī and Abū Madyan
His relationship with ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz al-Mahdawī in Tunis occupies an important place in his network. Abū Madyan’s influence also appears through his disciples and the environment Ibn al-ʿArabī knew. Influence, contact with disciples and a documented personal encounter are different relationships; they should not be treated as interchangeable.
Towards the Hijaz
At the beginning of the seventh Hijri century his travels turned eastward. The biography recounts visions and spiritual instructions through which he understood this change. Present these as his interpretation of his path, while assessing places, books and documents by their own evidence. Mecca continues the story; the timeline clarifies its broad sequence.
Sources and further reading
The source language appears beside each link. External books and sources may remain in their original languages.