Wahdat al-Wujūd in Sufi Thought: Bridging Metaphysical Unity and Mystical Devotion
This paper explains the Wahdat al-Wujūd (Unity of Being) doctrine, a pivotal metaphysical idea in traditional Sufi philosophy, maintaining the oneness of existence and ontological derivation of all that exists from the Divine. Based on the philosophy of Ibn 'Arabi (d. 1240) and developed by his...
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Department of Islamic Studies, Ghazi University
2025-06-01
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| Series: | الآفاق اسلامی و تحقیقی مجلہ |
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| Online Access: | http://alaafaqjournal.com/index.php/alaafaq/article/view/230 |
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| author | Dr. Syed Hamid Farooq Bukhari Dr. Naseem Akhter |
| author_facet | Dr. Syed Hamid Farooq Bukhari Dr. Naseem Akhter |
| author_sort | Dr. Syed Hamid Farooq Bukhari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper explains the Wahdat al-Wujūd (Unity of Being) doctrine, a pivotal metaphysical idea in traditional Sufi philosophy, maintaining the oneness of existence and ontological derivation of all that exists from the Divine. Based on the philosophy of Ibn 'Arabi (d. 1240) and developed by his disciples, this idea is one of the most significant and debated articulations in Islamic mysticism. The work traces its philosophical origins in early Sufi definitions and its systematic articulation in the intellectual climate of Andalusia and the wider Islamic world. Though historically treated as a speculative metaphysical system, Wahdat al-Wujūd at the same time was a working spiritual framework, which influenced devotional exercises like dhikr, fana', and murāqabah, and formed the ethical and psychological conversion of the Sufi aspirant. Through analysis of both philosophical works and devotional language, especially poetry and ritual, the paper underscores the integrating dimension of the doctrine, whereby metaphysical speculation is rendered concrete through lived mystical experience. Additionally, the article places Wahdat al-Wujūd in current academic debates, discussing its continued relevance, reinterpretations, and criticisms, particularly concerning pluralism, comparative mysticism, and changing debates around orthodoxy. Finally, this study contributes to a nuanced understanding of how classical Sufism bridged the abstract and the experiential, providing a coherent vision of the Real that remains evocative across spiritual and intellectual domains.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4a2aba84ab3d4e12bcbd16f099f04a5f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2789-3820 2789-3839 |
| language | Arabic |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Department of Islamic Studies, Ghazi University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | الآفاق اسلامی و تحقیقی مجلہ |
| spelling | doaj-art-4a2aba84ab3d4e12bcbd16f099f04a5f2025-08-25T22:22:02ZaraDepartment of Islamic Studies, Ghazi Universityالآفاق اسلامی و تحقیقی مجلہ2789-38202789-38392025-06-0151Wahdat al-Wujūd in Sufi Thought: Bridging Metaphysical Unity and Mystical DevotionDr. Syed Hamid Farooq Bukhari0Dr. Naseem Akhter1Head Department of Islamic Studies, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Pakistan.Associate Professor, Department of Islamic Studies Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar, Pakistan.This paper explains the Wahdat al-Wujūd (Unity of Being) doctrine, a pivotal metaphysical idea in traditional Sufi philosophy, maintaining the oneness of existence and ontological derivation of all that exists from the Divine. Based on the philosophy of Ibn 'Arabi (d. 1240) and developed by his disciples, this idea is one of the most significant and debated articulations in Islamic mysticism. The work traces its philosophical origins in early Sufi definitions and its systematic articulation in the intellectual climate of Andalusia and the wider Islamic world. Though historically treated as a speculative metaphysical system, Wahdat al-Wujūd at the same time was a working spiritual framework, which influenced devotional exercises like dhikr, fana', and murāqabah, and formed the ethical and psychological conversion of the Sufi aspirant. Through analysis of both philosophical works and devotional language, especially poetry and ritual, the paper underscores the integrating dimension of the doctrine, whereby metaphysical speculation is rendered concrete through lived mystical experience. Additionally, the article places Wahdat al-Wujūd in current academic debates, discussing its continued relevance, reinterpretations, and criticisms, particularly concerning pluralism, comparative mysticism, and changing debates around orthodoxy. Finally, this study contributes to a nuanced understanding of how classical Sufism bridged the abstract and the experiential, providing a coherent vision of the Real that remains evocative across spiritual and intellectual domains. http://alaafaqjournal.com/index.php/alaafaq/article/view/230Wahdat al-WujūdIbn ‘ArabiSufi MetaphysicsIslamic MysticismOntological UnityDevotional Practice |
| spellingShingle | Dr. Syed Hamid Farooq Bukhari Dr. Naseem Akhter Wahdat al-Wujūd in Sufi Thought: Bridging Metaphysical Unity and Mystical Devotion الآفاق اسلامی و تحقیقی مجلہ Wahdat al-Wujūd Ibn ‘Arabi Sufi Metaphysics Islamic Mysticism Ontological Unity Devotional Practice |
| title | Wahdat al-Wujūd in Sufi Thought: Bridging Metaphysical Unity and Mystical Devotion |
| title_full | Wahdat al-Wujūd in Sufi Thought: Bridging Metaphysical Unity and Mystical Devotion |
| title_fullStr | Wahdat al-Wujūd in Sufi Thought: Bridging Metaphysical Unity and Mystical Devotion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Wahdat al-Wujūd in Sufi Thought: Bridging Metaphysical Unity and Mystical Devotion |
| title_short | Wahdat al-Wujūd in Sufi Thought: Bridging Metaphysical Unity and Mystical Devotion |
| title_sort | wahdat al wujud in sufi thought bridging metaphysical unity and mystical devotion |
| topic | Wahdat al-Wujūd Ibn ‘Arabi Sufi Metaphysics Islamic Mysticism Ontological Unity Devotional Practice |
| url | http://alaafaqjournal.com/index.php/alaafaq/article/view/230 |
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