Mausoleum of Abu Bakr ibn al-Arabi, Fes

West of the Bab Mahrouk gate, outside the ancient city walls, lies the historic Bab Mahrouk Cemetery, a significant burial ground within the old city. One of its most notable features is the mausoleum of the esteemed 12th-century Islamic scholar, Abu Bakr ibn al-Arabi (1076–1148), renowned for his elaboration of the concept known as An-Nūr al-Muḥammadī, or the "Muhammadan Light".

According to this doctrine, the light of Muhammad existed before creation itself. It is believed that everything in the world was created from this primordial light. In essence, the world itself is seen as a manifestation of this divine light, which was incarnated in various forms including Adam, the prophets, and the Aqṭāb. Ibn al-Arabi's writings emphasize the significance of this concept, stating, "The creation began with nūr Muhammad. The lord brought the nūr from his own heart."

For Sufis, light symbolizes knowledge about one's inner self, while darkness represents what remains unknown. Ibn Arabi further categorized three types of light: Nûr al-anwâr (The Light of lights), which reveals the absolute reality in its most transcendent aspect, anwâr al-ma'âni (The Light of intellect), and anwâr al-tabi'â (The Light of nature). This intricate understanding of light reflects the profound spiritual insights of Islamic mysticism.