Wahdat Al Wujud: A Doctrine Of Tawheed And Refutation Of Shirk.

[MuhammedAli]

Introduction:

Wahdat al-Wujud is a part of doctrine of Tawheed misconstrued and demonized by foolish folk as Pantheistic. To be precise Hindu Monistic pantheism (i.e. Hama Oost, Persian) not Logostic pantheism. Yet the truth of matter is far from it. If matter of Tawheed and Shirk and principles of determining Shirk are studied in depth and then matter of Wahdat al-Wujud is approached. By referring to scholarly works on this topic. None would judge it to be Shirk or Pantheism. It is beautiful expression of Tawheed. And points to a dimension of Tawheed of Zaat commonly not studied nor realised with superficial understanding of Tawheed. Muwahid will appreciate Tawheed Wahdat al-Wujud.

Meaning Of Wahdat Al Wujud:

Wahdat al-Wujud. Wahdat means Oneness. In Sufi literature terms Wahdat/Wahdaniyyah are used in same meaning as Tawheed (i.e. Oneness). Al-Wujud means the Existence. And the al-Wujud is not referring to creation of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) but al-Wujud is referring to Zaat (i.e. Essence) of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). Wahdat al-Wujud is technical term to meaning: Tawheed of Allah’s (subhanahu wa ta’ala) Zaat’s Existence. Oneness of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) is unique to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) therefore in true sense the term Wahdat al-Wujud means: Uniqueness of Oneness of Existence of Allah’s (subhanahu wa ta’ala).

Teaching Of Wahdat Al Wujud:

Wahdat al-Wujud explains how Existence/Wujud of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) uniquely exists. It answers the question: Whose is existence is Haqiqi/Real - Allah’s (subhanahu wa ta’ala) or His creations? It teaches; the Haqiqi/True Existence is of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). However impossible may it be for His creation is to realize. And however real/true His creations existence may seem to His creation the reality of it is no greater then the reality of places, people, smells, we experience in dream. In other words existence of creation is illusory.

Supporting Wahdat al-Wujud:

Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) existed from Eternity and there was nothing with Him –: living nor dead, material nor immaterial. He was the First, the Last, the Eternal, the Absolute/Perfect, the Apparent, the Hidden, and is the Uncreated, there was nothing like Him and is nothing like Him. His Existence was the definition of Haqiqi Existence and nothing has changed this definition nor was a creation made part of it. When reality of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) is evident then material with which Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) created His creation can not be Haqiqi. If it is believed to possess Haqiqi essence then implication is creation was created from Essence of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and this is Shirk al-Akbar which invalidates belief in Islam.

Reasoning Behind Wahdat al-Wujud:

When there was nothing but Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and nothing other then Him was present, and when He did not create His creation from His Essence then natural implication is; His creation is devoid of Haqiqat other then what we the creation collectively are programed by Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) to see, hear, touch, feel. This may seem far fetched but following example will explain it. According to our created sense of judging what exits and what doesn’t exist a picture on PC monitor has no material existence other then conceptual. So even at created level we have degrees of existence; material and conceptual. Shaykh Ibn Arabi (rahimullah) and the Awliyah-Allah who supported and believed in Wahdat al-Wujud believed. Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) has Haqiqi Wujud, or the Wujud. The creation Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) created is just an illusion of existence which we collectively experience, like a person experiences places, sounds, smells, evens in dream but in reality he is not witness to anything as such. Alhasil there is illusory existence of creation and in this illusory existence in sentient beings there is sense of existence [of created] Zaat) and in it there is sense of existence [of created] illusory existence.

Conclusion:

Pantheism is Logostic and Monistic. The first teaches a spark of God combines with material to compose sentient creation. And the second teaches all that exists; sentient and insentient, creation is created from Him. Tawheed is that Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) is unique in all aspects of His Essence and Attributes. And His Existence is just as unique. Nothing of Him is composing creation and nothing of creation composes Him. Wahdat al-Wujud establishes the Haqiqi existence is of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and all what He created is an illusion. Nothing from His Essence, or Attributes resulted in creation but He created His creation and programmed in His creation the existence of His creation.

Wama alayna ilal balalghul mubeen.
Muhammed Ali Razavi.