wahdat

Wahdat is an Arabic term meaning unity or oneness. In Islamic discourse, the word is used in various contexts, most prominently within Sufi philosophy to describe views about the nature of God, existence, and the relationship between the creator and creation.

In Sufi thought, wahdat al-wujud (unity of existence) is a major concept often associated with the follower of Ibn Arabi. Proponents maintain that all beings are manifestations or appearances of the One Reality, and that the multiplicity of the world is ultimately a single, divine truth. This view emphasizes ontological unity and has been interpreted as insisting that only God’s essence is ultimately real, with creation reflecting divine names and attributes.

Wahdat ash-shuhud (unity of witnessing) is a related but distinct perspective that appears in debates within Sufism. It is sometimes described as a counterpoint to wahdat al-wujud, stressing that the unity of God is experienced in the heart and realized through spiritual witnessing, while the external world remains perceptually diverse to observers. Critics of wahdat al-wujud have described such positions as pantheistic or unorthodox, leading to long-standing theological controversy.

Historically, the terminology and its implications have been contested. Advocates argue that wahdat al-wujud offers a coherent account of the divine immanence in creation, whereas opponents warn against erasing the created distinction between God and His creatures. The dialogue continues in classical and modern discussions of tawhid, Sufism, and Islamic metaphysics.