AMONG the many concepts that emerged from the rich tradition of Islamic spirituality, few have inspired as much reflection and debate as Wahdat al-Wujud (Unity of Being). Associated most prominently with the great Sufi philosopher Ibn Arabi, this doctrine seeks to explain the relationship between God and creation. More than a philosophical theory, it represents a spiritual vision that invites believers to perceive the Divine signs woven throughout the fabric of existence. The roots of this idea lie in a fundamental question that has occupied mystics, theologians and philosophers throughout history: What is the true nature of existence? When a person reflects upon the vastness of the heavens, the beauty of nature or the mystery of life itself, it becomes evident that all created things are subject to change. Mountains erode, rivers alter their course, civilizations rise and fall and human beings pass through the stages of life before returning to their Creator. Amid this constant transformation, the mystics asked: What alone remains permanent?

Their answer was simple yet profound: only Allah possesses absolute and eternal existence. The Qur’an repeatedly directs human beings to contemplate this reality. One of the verses often cited by Sufi scholars states: “He is the........

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