living islam _ Islamic tradition

May Allah have mercy on him

by Dr. G.F. Haddad

Ibn 'Arabi says in Dhakhaairul-A'laaq (p.93):
"Before today, I used to criticise my companion if my religion was not the one
which he followed. But my heart changed to accept every image, so pastures for
the carefree lovers and convents for the monks. A house of idols and the idol
house at Taa'if, the tablets of the Torah and the mushaf of the Qur'aan. I
follow the religion of love wherever it takes me, so all religion is my
religion and belief."

...

Shaykh al-Madkhalee goes on to say (p.22, footnote):
"Despite all the gross deviations of ibn 'Arabee and the fact that the scholars
declared him to be an Unbeliever, yet he is revered by the Sufis and others who
do not distinguish between the truth and falsehood..."

The claim that "the scholars declared him to be an Unbeliever" is a good example of the unreliability of this Shaykh Madkhalee as it deliberately gives the impression that this is a matter of consensus or a majority. Al-hamdu lillah I have shown the falsehood of this misrepresentation in part [2] of this series. Observe the scrupulous fairness of true scholars who said, even though they disagreed with Ibn `Arabi, that "scholars differed concerning him" then count, if numbers impress you, his numerous admirers as against those who withheld judgment and the trickle that apostatized him.

I do not have to revere Ibn `Arabi when it is enough, in order to meet my responsibility in faith and sincerity, that I respect the general sanctity and honor of a Muslim for my own soul's sake, especially since many respected ulamas have declared him to be a knowledgeable Sunni Shaykh and a major scholar; although I, like al-Suyuti, consider him a wali. Salam

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