By Amr Roshdy:
Egypt:
In a move reflecting the Supreme Council of Sufi Orders’ commitment to regulating Sufi practices and solidifying its moderate approach, Sheikh Sayyid Ayman Hamdi al-Akbariyya, head of the Akbariyya Hatimiyya Order, met today with Dr. Abdel-Hadi al-Qasabi, Grand Sheikh of Sufi Orders and President of the Supreme Council of Sufi Orders, to whom he presented the official recognition decree.
With this decree, the Akbariyya Hatimiyya Order has become one of the officially recognized Sufi orders in the Arab Republic of Egypt, joining a list of 80 recognized Sufi orders under the umbrella of the Supreme Council of Sufi Orders.
This recognition is the culmination of the organizational and administrative efforts undertaken by the order’s leadership over the past period, and its fulfillment of the legal requirements and regulations approved by the Council, thus strengthening its institutional presence and its religious and spiritual role in society.
What is the Akbariyya Hatimiyya Order?
The Akbariyya Hatimiyya Sufi order is one of the Sufi orders whose methodology is based on the legacy of the great Sufi master, Sidi Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi. It is widespread in Egypt and several countries around the Islamic world, with a notable concentration of followers in Europe and Asia. The order contributes to spreading Sufi values based on love, purification, tolerance, and deepening the spiritual dimension in the lives of Muslims.
During the meeting, both sides emphasized the importance of adhering to the moderate Azharite approach and working to strengthen the role of Sufi orders in disseminating sound religious awareness and consolidating the concepts of ethics, coexistence, and social peace.
Introduction to the Sufi Master, Sidi Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi
He is the great Sheikh Muhyiddin Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Arabi al-Hatimi al-Ta’i al-Andalusi. He was born in 560 AH in the city of Murcia, Andalusia, and is considered one of the most prominent figures of Islamic Sufism and one of the most influential in Islamic spiritual thought throughout the ages.
Ibn Arabi was raised in a scholarly and spiritual environment. He received his early education in Andalusia, then traveled to North Africa and the Levant, eventually settling in Damascus, where he died in 638 AH/1240 CE and was buried. His shrine remains a known landmark to this day.
He was known as “the Greatest Sheikh,” and the term “Akbariyya” was used to describe his school of thought and spirituality. Among his most prominent works are: Al-Futuhat al-Makkiyya (The Meccan Revelations), Fusus al-Hikam (The Bezels of Wisdom), and Tarjuman al-Ashwaq (The Interpreter of Desires).
Ibn Arabi’s thought was characterized by its philosophical depth and mystical approach. He focused on the concepts of the unity of existence in its mystical sense, the station of the perfect human being, and the manifestations of the divine names and attributes, emphasizing the centrality of divine love and spiritual conduct based on purification and knowledge.
He left behind a vast legacy that influenced Sufi schools throughout the Islamic world. His influence extended to vast regions in the East and West, and even reached intellectual circles in Europe and Asia, making him one of the most prominent figures of Islamic mysticism throughout history.
305
