“You said you were interested and keen to read the books of the gnostic Ṣūfī Shaykh, Muḥyi ‘d-Dīn Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī ibn ʿArabī and that you found problematic his interpretation of the meaning of the quoted hadith about the length of the period of the Dajjāl,...
...and that you feared, because you found it problematic, that it may have been interpolated in the Shaykh's writings.
Know that there are many problematic matters in the Shaykh’s books, particularly in the ‘Fuṣūṣ’ and the ‘Futūḥāt’...
Know that there are many problematic matters in the Shaykh’s books, particularly in the ‘Fuṣūṣ’ and the ‘Futūḥāt’...
These may have been either added to the Shaykh’s writings, or produced by him when overpowered by a spiritual state and under the overwhelming power of a higher reality. It would then be the kind of divinely inspired statement (shath) which, in those who are overwhelmed,...
...is excusable. Or the Shaykh may have expressed it in a manner as to conceal behind it secrets and meanings too subtle to be put into words, and in that case, the form of the expressions would be obscure but their spirits and realities sound, firm, and not at all farfetched.
The words of the Shaykh which you found farfetched fall into one of those categories, by Allāh’s will. The Shaykh is one of those who have a firmly established stand in the sciences, gnoses, fear of Allāh, and renunciation of the world.
It is inappropriate for anyone who fears Allāh and knows about the Shaykh’s state, that which we have just mentioned, to accuse him of straying from the truth, as some have done who had the audacity to do what they should not have.
If you are to read some of the writings of this Shaykh and meet with pronouncements that you find problematic, just accept it and do not inquire further and seek farfetched interpretations or you will gain nothing but weariness. This is the counsel we give you...
...and all those who look into this Shaykh's books and those of others like him, who are people of ḥaqīqah and have expressed it in their books.
Those who do not comply and accept what we say are not safe from falling into the greater or smaller errors.
Those who do not comply and accept what we say are not safe from falling into the greater or smaller errors.
May Allāh the Exalted make us and you firm with the firm words, and of those who recognize the truth, hold on and conform to it, and recognize falsehood, avoid and cast it away. Reflect on these words, for within them are important warnings which need elaborations...
...too lengthy for a letter of this size. The best of speech is that which is brief yet informative.”
— Quṭb al Irshād wa Ghawth al ʿIbād wa ‘l-Bilād, al Imām ʿAbdaLlāh ibn ʿAlawī al Ḥaddād, al Nafāʾis al ʿUlwiyyah fī ‘l-Masāʾil al Ṣūfīyyah
— Quṭb al Irshād wa Ghawth al ʿIbād wa ‘l-Bilād, al Imām ʿAbdaLlāh ibn ʿAlawī al Ḥaddād, al Nafāʾis al ʿUlwiyyah fī ‘l-Masāʾil al Ṣūfīyyah
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