Who is Ibn Ata Allah al-Sakandari, and are his writings in agreement with the opinion of the majority of the Righteous Predecessors (Salaf Saleh)? Is he one of the monotheistic Salafi scholars or one of the Sufi scholars?

Ibn Ata Allah Al-Sakandari was one of the Sufi scholars, a follower of Al-Shadhili. Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar described him as the spokesman for the Sufis of his time. He was among those who opposed Sheikh Taqi al-Din Ibn Taymiyyah. Al-Dhahabi mentioned that he possessed remarkable majesty, held a prominent place in people's hearts, and participated in various virtues. He used to deliver speeches at Al-Azhar Mosque that uplifted souls, blending the discourse of the Sufi masters with the traditions of the Salaf and various branches of knowledge. He authored several works, including "Al-Hikam al-Ata'iyyah (Aphorisms of Ata Allah) on Sufism," "Taj al-Arus fi al-Wasaya wal-Izat (The Bride's Crown on Counsel and Admonitions)," and "Lata'if al-Minan fi Manaqib al-Mursi wa Abi al-Hasan (Subtleties of Blessings in the Virtues of Al-Mursi and Abu al-Hasan)."

"Al-Hikam al-Ata'iyyah" contains brevity, ambiguity, and conciseness that border on riddles, and it requires elucidation. However, those who undertook its explanation are people of innovation from the Sufi orders. The safer approach is to avoid his books and turn to what the scholars of the Salaf wrote, which conforms to the fundamental methodology of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah, such as the books of Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah.