Ara al-Sawi fi al-Aqida wa al-Suluk
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- Maktabat al-Nafidhah
Ara al-Sawi fi al-Aqida wa al-Suluk (The Views of al-Sawi on Creed and Spiritual Conduct) is a contemporary doctrinal treatise written by the researcher Asma bint Muhammad Tawfiq ibn Barakat Mulla Husayn . The book presents an extensive theological and analytical examination of the doctrinal and Sufi views of the late Egyptian Maliki scholar Ahmad al-Sawi (1175–1241 AH / 1761–1825 CE), critiquing them from the standpoint of the early Muslim forebears (al-Salaf al-Salih) and the Sunni tradition .
Purpose and Scope
The author states that her study aims to examine late Ash'ari theological developments and their close intersection with Sufi thought in the late Ottoman era . She chose Ahmad al-Sawi because of his wide influence across Islamic educational institutions—owing to his popular commentaries and supercommentaries such as Hashiyat al-Sawi 'ala Tafsir al-Jalalayn, Bulghat al-Salik, and his glosses on Ahmad al-Dardir's al-Kharida al-Bahiyya and Ibrahim al-Laqani's Jawharat al-Tawhid . The work focuses on identifying al-Sawi's positions regarding theological epistemologies, the attributes and oneness of God, prophethood, sainthood (walaya), and mystical conduct (suluk), evaluating each issue against the texts of the Quran and Sunnah .
Structure and Contents
The work is organized into an introduction, a biographical and contextual first part, detailed thematic chapters analyzing al-Sawi's doctrine and Sufism, and a conclusion :
- Part One: The Life and Era of Shaykh al-Sawi contains three chapters exploring the political, social, and religious-scientific landscape of the late Ottoman era and Egypt under Muhammad Ali Pasha; al-Sawi's biography, studies at Al-Azhar, and works; and his methodology in investigating creedal matters, with a focus on his epistemological reliance on speculative theology (kalam) and rational deduction over transmitted texts .
- Theological Analysis and Creed: Explores al-Sawi's views on theology, such as divine attributes, the concept of divine speech (al-kalam al-nafsi), and the definitions of divine unity (tawhid) and polytheism (shirk) . It also reviews his perspective on the reform movement of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, whom al-Sawi classified along with his followers as Kharijites .
- Sufism and Spiritual Conduct (Suluk): Analyzes al-Sawi's affiliation with the Khalwati order, his conception of Sufism as an obligatory science, spiritual stations (maqamat) such as annihilation (fana') and subsistence (baqa'), and his treatment of the unity of being (wahdat al-wujud), which he sought to reframe into the unity of witnessing (wahdat al-shuhud) . It also critiques al-Sawi's notions surrounding the Prophet ﷺ—including the Muhammadan Reality (al-Haqiqa al-Muhammadiyya) and invented formulas of prayer—as well as saintly miracles and obedience to Sufi masters .
Main Findings and Reception
In her conclusion, the author summarizes that al-Sawi conformed to early Sunni orthodoxy on several foundational issues—such as belief in angels, jinn, the Last Day, the Companions, the Caliphate, the validity of the faith of an imitator (iman al-muqallid), and the increase and decrease of faith . Conversely, she notes that he engaged extensively in late Ash'ari rationalist deviations and certain aspects of Sufi exaggeration, attempting to harmonize radical Sufi expressions with mainstream Islamic tenets through figurative interpretations .
The book features introductions and appraisals by scholars including Dr. Abd Allah ibn Muhammad al-Qarni of the College of Da'wah and Usul al-Din (dated Safar 1426 AH), as well as Prof. Dr. Ahmad Abd al-Rahim al-Sayih of al-Azhar and Counselor Tawfiq Ali Wahbah, who commended the author's objectivity and command of kalam and Sufi texts . The book was published in Giza, Egypt, by Maktabat al-Nafidhah .
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