Al-Farabi describes a hierarchical descent through , each associated with a celestial sphere:
Al-Farabi didn’t leave emanation in the clouds. He applied this hierarchy to his political philosophy in his famous work, The Virtuous City . al farabi theory of emanation
For Al-Farabi, God’s essence is pure intellect and goodness. Creation is not a decision made after deliberation. Rather, God’s self-knowledge and His knowledge of His own goodness overflow necessarily. Think of a burning coal: it does not choose to emit heat; it emits heat because it is hot. Similarly, God emanates existence because He is Existence. Al-Farabi describes a hierarchical descent through , each