Wahdat al-Shuhud & Wahdat al-Wujud- Pir Seyyid Mehr Ali's Enlightment

al-Seyyid Mehr Ali (May Allah be pleased with Him) attempted to bridge the differences between adherents of the two apparently divergent concepts of whadat al-Shuhd and wahdat al-Wujud by advancing the subsequent points of views. I find this very useful for those who are confused in this dispute.

(a) 'Wahdat-ush-Shahood' represents the initial stages of suluk (spiritual journey), and the basic essence of faith (nafs-e-iman), whereas 'Wahdat-ul-Wajood' constitutes the acme of suluk and the perfected state of faith (kamal-e-iman).

(b) Belief in Wahdat-ul-Wajood was neither incumbent upon the followers of earlier apostles of Allah, nor is it binding upon the Ummah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) of Islam.

(c) Wahdat-ul-wajood represents the vision and clairvoyance of the elect among the sufia, and it is related to inner vision rather than to outward and oral pronouncement only.

Whilst illustrating the philosophy of Wahdat-ul-Wajood and al-Haqeeqah al-Muhammadiyyah, al-Seyyid Mehr Ali (R.A) in his famous Naat, says

(trns) "This face (of the Prophet) emerged from the Faceless One (i.e., Allah); The Faceless One manifests Himself through this face".

"The Colourless (Reality) has been revealing itself through this image; Ever since Unity exploded into Diversity".

" It is the face that guides (mankind) to the path of the Faceless One (i.e., Allah); Nay (not the path only but) to the Ultimate Reality Itself".

Mehr-e-Munir

I have been currently writing on 'The Modes of Divine Unity' and shall post something on this very soon, Insha Allah.