UNITY AND ONENESS IN ILLEGAL SUFISM AND PHILOSOPHY: AN OVERVIEW AND CRITIQUE

Abstract

Research has proven that "Al-Wahd" (the One), "Al-Ahad" (the Unique), and monotheism mean: singularity and exclusivity. The meaning of Allah being one is that Allah the Almighty is solely specific and unique, without partner, and separate from His creation. Singularity and uniqueness are attributes of His self, inseparable from Him. Additionally, Allah is described as Ahad (the One) and Wahid (the Unique) based on evidence from the Quran and Sunnah, and both are among His beautiful names. It has also been established that there are three distinctions between Wahdaniyyah (singularity) and Ahadiyyah (uniqueness). Allah is one in three matters: one in Lordship (Rububiyyah), one in Divinity (Uluhiyyah), and one in Names and Attributes.

Innovative Sufism has deviated in matters of Wahdaniyyah and Ahadiyyah, engaging in acts of shirk practically—such as circumambulating graves, slaughtering and making vows to them, seeking help from others besides Allah, and similar acts. For them, Wahdaniyyah involves witnessing through spiritual unveiling by the light of truth.

Due to the concealment of the oneness of worship among the Sufis, they did not deny the shirk that occurred within the Muslim community. Among the most prominent representatives of this is their sheikh, Jilani.

For extreme Sufis, Wahdaniyyah and Ahadiyyah conceptually link the Lord and the servant through a process of absorption and mutual manifestation, based on their beliefs in incarnation (hulul). Examples include Bistami, and both the unity of existence (wahda al-wujud) and union (ittihad)—represented by Ibn Arabi, al-Hallaj, and Ibn al-Farid.

Some other groups of Sufis have adopted the doctrine of the unity of existence, such as Al-Qunawi, Nablusi, Abdul Salam Ban Bishesh, Muhammad al-Muhammadi, Ahmed al-Idrisi, and Hassan Ridaan. Each of these has contributed their part, delving into what is not truly theirs and attempting to establish the doctrine of the unity of existence through both speech and poetry, which could be lengthy and heavy to read. Their differences are only in terminology; the essence remains the same.

No Muslim doubts the kufr (disbelief) of those who claim the unity of existence. Islamic scholars, when judging the disbelief of exaggerated Sufis who advocate the unity of existence, solution, and union, also judge those who do not consider such claims to be kufr.

In Sufi thought, monotheism and knowledge are often expressed as the unity of existence, union, or solution. Hence, it is not surprising to find them concealing their true esoteric knowledge, revealing it only to their closest confidants.