Theology of God in Sufism: From Classical Metaphysics to its Relevance for Modern Humans

Modern life, dominated by rationalism and materialism, has created a spiritual crisis of alienation, anxiety, and loss of meaning. This article examines Sufi theology's potential to address these issues, focusing on two metaphysical doctrines: Ibn 'Arabī's Wahdat al-Wujud (Unity of Existence) and Ahmad Sirhindī's dialectical critique, Wahdat al-Syuhud (Unity of Witnessing). Through qualitative literature review and comparative hermeneutic analysis of primary Sufi texts, the findings indicate that Sufi theology offers insights into reality and human existence. Concepts like soul purification (tazkiyah al-nafs), divine love (mahabbah), and detachment (zuhud) provide a spiritual therapy for psychological, ethical, and existential challenges, and inspire Neo-Sufism as urban spirituality.

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Abstract

Modern life, characterised by the dominance of rationalism and materialism, has given rise to a profound spiritual crisis, manifesting itself in the form of alienation, anxiety, and a loss of meaning. This research article examines the theology of divinity in the Sufi tradition as a potential framework for addressing these contemporary issues. Focusing on two main metaphysical doctrines—Wahdat al-Wujud (Unity of Existence), popularised by Ibn ' Arabī, and its dialectical critique, Wahdat al-Syuhud (Unity of Witnessing) by Ahmad Sirhindī—this study explores how conceptions of God and His relationship with the universe form the foundation for ethics and spiritual practice. This research employs a qualitative literature review method, analysing primary Sufi texts and relevant secondary literature through comparative and hermeneutic analysis. The findings reveal that Sufi theology, far from being outdated, offers profound insights into the nature of reality and human existence. Implicitly, concepts such as the purification of the soul (tazkiyah al-nafs), divine love (mahabbah), and detachment from worldly attachments (zuhud) offer a "spiritual therapy" that can address the psychological, ethical, and existential challenges faced by modern humans, as well as inspire new forms of urban spirituality known as Neo-Sufism.