The following verses for Ibn Arabi (and verses with similar expressions for other well-known Sufis) appear to have been, and still are, attracting interest and can be found quoted and translated:
لقد صار قلبي قابلا كل صورة فمرعى لغزلان ودير لرهبان
وبيت لأوثان
وكعبة طائف وألواح توراة ومصحف قرآن
أدين بدين الحب أنى توجهت ركائبه
فالحب ديني وإيماني
A possible translation:
"My Heart has become 'a container of' / 'a mirror reflecting' every Image,
A Pasture for a Deer herd , a Temple for Monks and Priests,
A Home for Idols, a Ka'abah for someone circling around,
The Tablets of the Torah and the Pages of the Quran.
I believe in the Religion of Love, whatever direction its Caravan goes,
Since Love is my Religion and my Faith".
- There appears to be a certain understanding that, by such verses, Ibn Arabi was saying that different Religions are literally, seamlessly and equally the same. Hence, as it goes: Ibn Arabi accepted all Religions, unconditionally.
Some religious people who do not approve of Sufism, appear to have such an understanding. That understanding was used, by them, as a basis to claim that Ibn Arabi was a heretic.
The same verses (with what appears to be the same understanding) have also been claimed to be a proof of Ibn Arabi's universal call for brotherhood among people from different religions, by people who appear to have a favorable opinion about Sufism, but who appear to be thinking that the verses support their understanding of what they probably see as an aspect of Sufism (Note #2).
- However, Ibn Arabi himself explained the above verses in his book 'ذخائر الأعلاق', so I think, maybe it is straightforward to get to the bottom of what he meant. And as far as I can tell, what he meant is different from the above understanding.
