Origins & Early Life

Abu Bakr ibn al-Arabi (Arabic: أبو بكر بن العربى; c. 1076–1148) was a Muslim qadi and scholar of Maliki law from al-Andalus. Like Al-Mu'tamid ibn Abbad, Ibn al-Arabi was forced to migrate to what is now Morocco during the reign of the Almoravids. It is reported that he was a student of al-Ghazali.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He was a master of Maliki Jurisprudence. His father was a student of Ibn Hazm. He also contributed to the spread of Ash'ari theology in al-Andalus. A detailed biography about him was written by his contemporary Qadi Ayyad (d. 1149), the Malikite scholar and judge from Ceuta.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Abu Bakr Ibn al-'Arabi was a "Andalusian Malikite qadi". He was born in Seville, Al-Andalus. Ibn al-'Arabi's father (Abu Muhammad ibn al-'Arabi) was a high ranking statesman working for the Taifa king of Seville, al-Mu'tamid ibn 'Abbad (r. 1069-1091). However, in 1091 when Al-Andalus was taken over by the Almoravids, Ibn al-'Arabi (then 16 years old) and his father decided to leave for a less turbulent setting (his father also had political motivations). The two al-'Arabis travelled by ship to Egypt, and from there they travelled to Jerusalem where they stayed from 1093 to 1096.

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