A Comparative Study of the Realities of the Throne (Arsh) and the Footstool (Kursī) from the Perspectives of Allamah Ṭabāṭabā’ī and the Mystical School of Ibn ʿArabī

Within the cosmic order, two profound metaphysical realities, Arsh (Arabic: عرش, lit: Throne) and Kursī (Arabic: کرسی, lit: Footstool), have been subjects of extensive scholarly discourse, among which Allamah Ṭabāṭabā’ī and the mystical school of Ibn ʿArabī stand out as central figures. These two perspectives share both commonalities and divergences in their interpretations of the essence and nature of the Arsh and Kursī. Given that the Qurʾānic exegesis, mysticism (ʿirfān, Arabic: عرفان), and rational theology (burhān, Arabic: برهان) are inherently interconnected, and considering that the interpretative framework of Arsh and Kursī in Ibn ʿArabī’s mystical school appears to differ from the interpretation of Allamah Ṭabāṭabā’ī, it is necessary to undertake an inquiry into these perspectives. This article, therefore, aims to critically and analytically examine and compare the metaphysical realities of the Arsh and Kursī from the viewpoints of Allamah Ṭabāṭabā’ī and the mystical teachings of Ibn ʿArabī, employing a descriptive-analytical and comparative methodology. Allamah Ṭabāṭabā’ī views the Arsh and Kursī as a unified metaphysical reality, encompassing both general and specific aspects. He asserts that these realities are located within the intellectual realm (ʿālam al-ʿaql, Arabic: عالم العقل), and they are borne by carriers who uphold them both in this world and in the Hereafter (akhirah, Arabic: آخرة). The Arsh in this context is singular, both in its worldly and eschatological manifestations. Conversely, Ibn ʿArabī’s mystical tradition posits that the Arsh takes a circular form, originating in the world of al-ʿĀlam al-Mithāl (the World of Image, Arabic: عالم المثال), and is distinct from other forms of Arsh. The Kursī, understood as the earthly paradise (Jannat al-Arḍ, Arabic: جنة الارض), is situated within this specific Arsh. Furthermore, the Arsh is carried by four beings, in contrast to the Arsh carried in the eschatological realm, which is borne by eight beings. The key findings of this article can be summarized as follows: 1. Arsh and Kursī are two distinct metaphysical realities, each representing a different aspect of God’s active knowledge (ʿilm faʿlī, Arabic: علم الفعلی). 2. The primary carriers of the Kursī are four beings, who are conceptually linked to the Arsh due to their association with the Kursī. 3. According to specific traditions (riwāyah, Arabic: روایة), certain perfected human beings (al-insān al-kāmil, Arabic: الانسان الکامل) may be regarded as carriers of the Arsh. 4. The attribution of the Atlantean Sphere (falak atlas, Arabic: فلک أطلس) and the Sphere of Spheres (falak al-aflāk, Arabic: فلک الأفلاک) to the Arsh, as described in the Ptolemaic model of astronomy, is erroneous. 5. The Arsh is a singular metaphysical reality with multiple attributes, including ʿazīm (Arabic: عظیم, lit: great), karīm (Arabic: کریم, lit: generous), and majīd (Arabic: مجید, lit: glorious), which describe its essence, rather than its separate types. 6. Based on the apparent meanings in the traditions, the Arsh in both the worldly and eschatological realms is one and the same.