Edition of Abd-al-Ali Ansari's Unity of Being Treatise with an Introduction

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Corresponding Author, M.A Student University of Tehran

2 Assistant Prof. of University of Tehran

Abstract

Unity of being (wahdat al-wujud) is the highest form of the
unity of God (tawhid) and the fundamental principle of
theoretical mysticism. It was since Ibn al-Arabi's time in 7th
century that theoretical mysticism was consistently developed.
Since then the concept of Unity of being has continued to
receive attention and many scholars have written books and
treatises both in proving and rejecting it. Abd-al-Ali
Mohammad Ibn Nezam-al-din Mohammd Ansari, a leading 12th
century Indian theologian of the Hanafī school, is one of these
scholars. Following Ibn al-Arabi's point of views, he has tried to
rationalize the Unity of being and to justify its multiplicities and
status. Explicating themes running through the treatise, this
article attempts to edit it as a reference in mysticism, especially
in the pivotal subject of Unity of being.

Keywords