What is the ruling on one who says, "If it were permissible for the prayer to be recited with something other than the Qur'an, it would have been recited with the aphorisms of Ibn Ata' Allah Al-Sakandari"? Is it permissible to pray behind such a person? And are Sufis divided into moderate and extremist, or are they all blameworthy?

Ibn Ata Allah al-Sakandari, who died in 709 AH, was one of the extremist Sufis of the Shadhili order. He authored the book "Al-Hikam al-Ilahiyyah" (Divine Aphorisms), which contains violations of Islamic law.

Among his reprehensible statements in "Al-Hikam" are: 1. Assertions that support the unity of existence (Wahdat al-Wujud), incarnation (hulul), and unio mystica (ittihad). 2. Prohibiting supplicating to God, considering it an accusation against Him, or deeming the abandonment of supplication a matter of etiquette. 3. Encouraging the neglect of talents and the abandonment of planning, claiming that self-management is unnecessary. 4. Contradictory and absurd statements regarding recompense in the hereafter.

All these statements indicate his straying from the truth, and they render the statement of anyone who claimed that "if prayer were permissible without the Qur'an, his book would be recited" as abhorrent and emanating from an ignorant, misguided person. However, praying behind him is not impermissible unless the matter reaches the level of apostasy that expels one from the religion.

Sufism in this era is considered an innovated path that does not align with following the Sunnah.