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Fatwa CenterReading Al-Hikam by Ibn ‘Ata'illah As-Sakandari
Question
I would like to know if the book Al-Hikam written by Ibn ‘Ata'illah As-Sakandari is a good book? Did any of the scholars recommend it?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Ibn ‘Atta'illah As-Sakandari was one of the Sufi scholars and a follower of the Sufi order known as the Shaathili Tareeqah; rather, he was one of its leading shaykhs. He composed his book Al-Hikam following the Sufi methodology. The books of Sufi scholars, in general, contain truth and falsehood and the good and the bad. Shaykh Mahmood Mahdi Al-Istaanbooli criticized the book in reference in his book Kutub laysat min Al-Islam. He mentioned many of the falsehoods in this book. After commenting on this book, Al-Istaanbooli quoted some of the earlier scholars' statements - such as Imaam Ahmad and Abu Zur‘ah - criticizing and warning against less controversial Sufi writings (than those of ‘Atta'illah As-Sakandari) like the writings of Al-Haarith Al-Muhaasibi about the states of the "soul" and its inner thoughts. Therefore, lay-Muslims should beware of reading such books that might cause them confusion in the religion.
Allah knows best.
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