al-Furqan bayna Awliya al-Rahman wa Awliya al-Shaytan
- Author died
- 728 AH
- Editions
- Maktabat Dār al-Bayān
al-Furqan bayna Awliya al-Rahman wa Awliya al-Shaytan (The Criterion Between the Allies of the Merciful and the Allies of Satan) is a theological treatise by the Hanbali scholar Ibn Taymiyya (d. 728 AH / 1328 CE) dedicated to distinguishing between genuine saints of God and those affiliated with Satan .
Subject and Scope
The treatise defines the true allies of God (awliya Allah or awliya al-Rahman) as the believers who maintain piety (taqwa), citing the Quranic verse: أَلَا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ * الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَ ("Unquestionably, the allies of Allah—there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve: those who believed and were conscious of Allah") . Ibn Taymiyya explains that faith and piety vary in degrees among individuals; consequently, their proximity and allegiance (wilaya) to God vary accordingly . He divides the allies of God into two primary ranks:
- The Righteous of the Right Hand (al-abrar ashab al-yamin), who fulfill obligatory duties and avoid forbidden acts .
- The Foremost Brought Near (al-sabiqun al-muqarrabun), who advance further by performing voluntary acts of devotion (nawafil) .
To anchor this hierarchy, he cites the divine narration (hadith qudsi) recorded by al-Bukhari: مَنْ عَادَى لِي وَلِيًّا فَقَدْ آذَنْته بِالْحَرْبِ وَمَا تَقَرَّبَ إلَيَّ عَبْدِي بِمِثْلِ أَدَاءِ مَا افْتَرَضْت عَلَيْهِ وَلَا يَزَالُ عَبْدِي يَتَقَرَّبُ إلَيَّ بِالنَّوَافِلِ حَتَّى أُحِبَّهُ ("Whoever shows enmity to a wali of Mine, I declare war upon him; and My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with voluntary deeds until I love him") .
Core Arguments and Critique
The principal criterion establishing true saintliness is strict adherence to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in outward actions and inward beliefs . Ibn Taymiyya asserts that anyone claiming divine friendship while discarding prophetic guidance is an ally of Satan rather than an ally of the Merciful .
He systematically addresses several claims and theological deviations:
- Miracles versus Satanic Feats: Supernatural occurrences (khawariq al-adat) alone do not signify sanctity, as they may appear at the hands of disbelievers, sorcerers, and false claimants such as Musaylima . Authentic charismata (karamat) stem from faith, prayer, and adherence to revelation, whereas satanic states (al-ahwal al-shaytaniyya) arise from prohibited acts, polytheism (shirk), seeking aid from created beings or jinn, and preferring musical gatherings over the Quran .
- Cessation of Obligations: The work refutes antinomian notions claiming that religious obligations (taklif) and prohibitions are lifted from spiritual elites, exposing those who commit unlawful acts under the guise of sanctity .
- Critique of Monism and Terminology: Ibn Taymiyya attacks the doctrines of monism and pantheistic unity (al-hulul wa-l-ittihad) and refutes spiritual hierarchies expressed in invented terms such as al-ghawth (the succor), al-aqtab (the poles), al-awtad (the pegs), and al-abdal (the substitutes) . He also critiques the claims of visionary inspiration made by figures such as the author of al-Futuhat al-Makkiyya (Ibn Arabi), categorizing experiences linked with occult seclusion and demonic spirits as satanic deception .
Transmission and Printed Editions
The work is incorporated within Ibn Taymiyya's collected works, Majmu' al-Fatawa (specifically in volume 11), edited by Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad ibn Qasim . It has also been printed independently in several critical editions, including:
- An edition edited by Zuhayr al-Shawish, published by al-Maktab al-Islami in Beirut .
- An edition edited by Sharif Muhammad Hazza', published by Dar al-Sahaba li-l-Turath in Egypt (1410 AH / 1990 CE) .
- An edition published by Maktabat Ibn Taymiyya in Cairo (1416 AH) .
The treatise has been taught and expounded in contemporary scholarly lectures, such as al-Ta'liqat al-Hisan 'ala al-Furqan bayna Awliya al-Rahman wa-Awliya al-Shaytan by Salih Al al-Shaykh .
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