Sufis' critical confrontation with Ibn Arabi's theory of the unity of existence (Criticism of the famous opinion about the attribution of the unity of existence to all Sufis)

Abstract

One of the common but incorrect views about Ibn Arabi's theory of the unity of existence is to attribute this view to all Sufis, or at least to the Sufis of the 7th century A.H. onwards. Ibn Arabi, with his pseudo-philosophical design of the unity of existence theory, led to an unprecedented schism and fragmentation between the Sheikhs and Sufi families, until he put the strong relationship of murid and moradi under the spotlight. In many sects, the elder of the tariqat considers this opinion to be the monotheism of the Qur'anic Samadi, and the disciple calls it blasphemy in the tariqats of Kobaruyeh, Nematullahiyyah, Rifaiyya, Chishtiyyah, Suhrwardiyyah, Shazliyyah, Kobaruyyah, Naqshbandiyyah, Qadiriyyah, etc. Opposition to Ibn Arabi's theory of the unity of existence and being and its accessories and results arose to the point where it can even be said that Ibn Arabi's theory of the unity of existence and existence in Sufism is an unpopular point of view and should not be attributed to all Sufis. The following essay has used a library method to reinterpret monotheism in the eyes of the elders of the Sufi sects, and for this purpose, it has gone to the most prominent leaders of each of these tariqats and has shown that a large number of prominent Sufi leaders and elders agree with the theory of the unity of Ibn Arabic has opposed or interpreted it to other views such as the unity of intuition.

Keywords

• unity of existence
• ibn arabi
• mystical theology
• unity of intuition
• intuition