What is the meaning of Shams-i Tabrizi's saying, "We believe that God sees us from above, but He sees us from within," specifically the phrase "but He sees us from within," and is it linked to the doctrine of "Wahdat al-Wujud" (unity of existence)?

It is well-known that Al-Tabrizi is the shaykh of Jalaluddin Rumi, and he is a Sufi who believes in the unity of existence (wahdat al-wujud). The authenticity of the circulating quote attributed to him is unknown.

If the speaker, by using the word "but," intends to negate Allah's transcendence above His creation in order to assert that He sees us only from within, then this is false and precisely what the people of misguidance revolve around.

However, if his intention by "but" is to add an explanation and not to negate the previous sentence, meaning that Allah is aware of both the outward and the inward, and knows what the hearts conceal, then this is true and consistent with the Quranic verses and noble Prophetic traditions that affirm that Allah looks at hearts and deeds.

Thus, the saying is susceptible to both truth and falsehood. A Muslim must distance themselves from the sayings and writings of the people of innovation (Ahl al-Bid'ah) to preserve their religion. The Salaf unanimously agreed on showing enmity towards the people of innovation, abandoning them, and forbidding looking into their books or listening to their speech.