Ahl e Hadees views on Tassawuf:

Before mentioning and quoting the views of different ulema of Ahl e Hadith school of thought, one
should know about the concept of Wahdat al-Wujood.

Wahdat al-Wujood

Wahdat al-Wajood or Wahdat ul-Wujood is a concept based upon the idea that nothing exists other
than Allah, and creation is merely the manifestation of Allah. This implies that the creation is Allah, and
Allah does not exist outside the creation.

Hadhrat Imadadullah Mahajir Makki R.A explains Wahdat al-Wajood in a booklet by the same name,
with an example of a seed and a tree.

He states that the seed is Allah and the creation is the tree with its stem, roots, branches and leaves.
Initially, only the seed was present, and the entire huge tree was hidden in the small seed. When the
plant grew into a massive tree, the seed disappeared. The seed is now manifest in this huge tree and
does not have an existence outside of it.

The Sufis consider the realization of Wahdat al-Wajood to be a matter of great wisdom. According to
them, Tawheed (lit. making one) is a complete denial of existence for everything other than Allah

As written:

The root of Tawheed is the negation of the non-existent and transitory things and the confirmation of
the everlasting thing.[ Irshaadul Mulook]
A concept which posits true existence for any being other than Allah is Shirk in Divine Attribute of
Existence (Wajood).[ Ikhmaalush Shiyaam]

Ahl e Hadees Views:

Modern ahl e hadees(wahabis) like Dr. Zakir Naik, Mufti Menk, and Shykh Tauseef ur Rehman have
shown their hatred in their many talks for the seekers of the SUFI WAY ie the people of Tasawwuf
[Sufism]. They regarded sufism as Shirk due to misinterpretation of Tassawuf amongst Ahl e Hadees,
they take Tasawwuf as an innovation. But anyone who is aware of their history knows that many of
the ELDERS OF BOTH- THE SALAFI (2) AND AHLE HADEES MOVEMENTS were never against Sufism
[Tasawwuf] as whole.

Note: Ahle Hadees not to be confused with AHLUL HADITH [Sunni muhaddithoon]. The
Wahhabis/Ghayr Muqallideen of Indian subcontinent whose founding were the student of Ismail Dehlvi
and his associates. They started equating themselves with AHLUL HADITH [ the Sunni Mujtahid Imams]
and left Taqleed. They refer to their sect as Ahl e Hadeeth. The truth is that they are not worthy of such
a title. But, for the sake of convenience, we are calling them as Ahle Hadees.
FOUNDING FATHERS and MAJOR SCHOLARS OF THE AHLE HADEES MOVEMENT OF THE INDIAN
SUBCONTINENT. We will mainly focus on those aspects of Tasawwuf [Sufism] which are regarded as
Shirk and Kufr by the modern ahl e hadees.

Note: Some ahl e hadees apologetics try to explain the Sufi Affiliations of the Wahabi scholars saying
that they were only in support of Legitimate type of Sufi and against the extreme Sufi practices and
concepts like Tabarruk , Khatams , Isaale Thawaab to the deceased , Kashf ilhaam , Wahdat al Wujud
and Shaykh ul Akbar Ibn Arabi , the main Proponent of this theory. So, we have mainly focussed on the
opinion of Ahle Hadees scholars on Shaykh ibn Arabi and those extreme Sufi ideologies and practices
which are deemed as Kufr and Shirk by followers of the Horn of Satan.

all the scholars quoted in this note are highly respected by the Ahle Hadees sect of Indian
subcontinent. Nawab Siddik Hasan Bhopali and Mian Nazeer Hussain Dehlvi have unparalleled status in
the eyes of their scholars.

Nawab Siddiq Hasan Khan Bhopali al Qannauji writes regarding Shaykh Ibn Arabi:

Summarizing, its not possible to contain [mention] your status and miracles in [just] a few volumes. He
was Allahs apparent proof on Earth and the Mazhar [place where something becomes apparent] of His
illuminating signs
(Siddik hasan Bhopali in his : Al Taj ul Mukallal, page 176)

He then talks about making Tabarruk [seeking Blessing] with the grave of Ibn 'Arabi:

"I have visited his grave OFTEN and made tabarruk. I witnessed the shining lights on his grave. One
wouldn't find an honest person denying the charisma of the place."
(al-Taj ul Mukallal, page 178)

Miya Nadheer Husain Dehlvi showing his appreciation for Ibn 'Arabi and SUFISM :

His students Moulana Fadhl Hussain Mudhafarpur, another famous Ahle Hadees scholar, writes in (al-
Hayat ba'd al-mamat):
"When he (i.e. Miyan Nadheer Husain) would teach Kitab al-Raqa'iq and explain the detailed elements
of Tasawwuf [Sufism] and its realities, he would say: 'Dear fellows, what we see here is revival of
religious knowledge!'. For this reason, amongst the scholars he would laud al-Shaykh al-Akbar Muhi al-
Din Ibn 'Arabi greatly, and he would say: 'He is the last of the Muhammadan sainthood'(Khatim al
Wilaayat-e-Muhammadi)."
[Al hayah Baad al Mamaat, page 123]

ThanaUllah Amritsari , the Shaykh ul Islam for the Ahle Hadees Scholars , writes regarding WAHDAT UL
WUJUD
According to this explanation, the parable for Wahdat ul Wujud is that If we put glasses of different
colours in the rooms of a house , some white , some red , some green , some Black ,and we put a Lamp
behind them , then anyone from outside will see these Glasses in different colours. But, the person with
keen observation will preserve the ONENESS OF THE LAMP [lamp ki wahdat ko mahfooz rakhega ie the
person will understand that the Light from the Glasses has a Singular Cause]. Quran Majeed also
mentions while pointing towards this explanation : Allahu NoorusSamawaati waal Ardh :
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth [Noor 24:35]. According to this Explanation the
Meaning of Wahdat ul Wujud would be Wahdat ul Mujad which is completely correct.
[Fatawa Thanaiya(Sanaiya) by Thanaullah Amritsari: vol. 1 , Page no 149 ]

Maulana Waheed uz Zaman , another famous Ahle Hadees scholar , writes in his commentary of Sahih
Muslim :

The reality of Sufism[Tasawwuf] is that the Slave[i.e. Human Beings] develops Love and affection for
the Lord [Allah] and the thought of the Lord remains in the heart of the slave at every moment. So, its
highest level is that the Slave is drowned so much in the Tasawwur [literally meaning Visualization] of
the Dhaat of Allah that nothing remains visible except Allah , meaning that he see the things in the world
with his outward eyes and hear from his ears but when the Heart is with Allah [Urdu :dil Khuda se laga
he] , then eyes and ears are open like that of a dead person . Eyes see , Ears hear but the concentration
and Lau is [in the thought] of Allah. This is Known as Wahdat ush Shuhood which is attained by the
Dervishes and Sufiya of highest level and the Pure Slaves of Allah.
[Wahiduz Zaman in his commentary of Sahih Muslim , Vol. 1 and page 79]

He also writes regarding Shaykh ibn Arabi:

Among the Sufis who believed in Wahdat ul Wujud were Shaykh Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi. Shaykh Ibn Arabi ,
may Allah have mercy on him , were an Ahlul Hadith [meaning : a scholar who has reached the rank of a
Mujtahid and is capable of doing ijtihad] in both Usools and Furooee matters. Anyone who speaks bad
regarding them is in danger [ie his hereafter is in danger.] (Hadiyatul Mahdi:51/1)

Maulana Abdullah Muhaddith Ropadi , who is known as Mujtahidul Asr among the Ahle Hadees, writes :

These Four classes of Tauheed are famous amongst the Sufiya. The last two are the same that has been
asked by you i.e. Tauheed e Haali is Wahdat ush Shuhood and Tauheed e Ilahi is Wahdat ul
Wujud. These terms are usually found in the books of latter Sufis like Ibn Arabi and not in that of the
Earlier ones. Yes! Their intended meaning is CORRECT. Tauheed e Imaani and Tauheed e Ilmi is clear ,
Tauheed e Haali is also mentioned in this Hadeeth (4) That you worship Allah as if you are seeing Him,
for though you don't see Him, He, verily, sees you Sahih Muslim [Chapter 1: Book 001, Number
0001]
[Fatawa Ahle Hadeeth , page no. 153 , by Maulana Ropadi ]