Wilayah: The Cornerstone of Sufism

Wilayah, or spiritual sainthood, is the linchpin of Sufi thought and practice. While the concept of the “wali” (spiritual guide) existed in early Sufism through figures like “pir,” “murad,” and “shaykh,” it was Hakim Tirmidhi who first systematically explored wilayah from a Sufi perspective. He laid the foundation, which Ibn Arabi later refined.  Since then, all who have explored wilayah in Sufism have built upon Ibn Arabi’s work. Indeed, one could argue that no significant addition has been made to the Sufi understanding of wilayah since his time.

In post-Ibn Arabi Sufism, wilayah became the central concept, encompassing all Sufi knowledge. Without wilayah, key Sufi ideas like tawheed (divine oneness), nubuwwa (prophethood), and the inner dimensions of faith lose meaning. The path of spiritual growth (suluk) becomes impossible, and Sufi ontology crumbles. Every aspect of Sufism relies on wilayah for its coherence.

However, there’s a crucial difference between the Shia and Sufi understandings of wilayah. In Shia Islam, wilayah is exclusive to divinely appointed figures like prophets and Imams. Their number, lineage, and spiritual مقام (maqam, stations) are clearly defined in religious texts.  This exclusivity is a cornerstone of Shia belief.

The Sufis’ understanding of wilayah, coupled with practices like sama’ and shahid bazi (beauty worship), has been a source of contention between Sufism and traditional Islamic scholarship. Scholars have raised concerns about these practices, arguing that they deviate from Islamic law and tradition. These debates have shaped the history of Sufism and its relationship with mainstream Islamic thought. shahid bazi https://article.tebyan.net/485295