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What is your opinion regarding the issue of the Seal of Sainthood (khatm al-wilāya) according to the Grand Master Muhyi al-Din Ibn 'Arabi, and was he the Seal of Sainthood, or was it someone else? And if so, what are his characteristics?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

There is nothing in the Book or the Sunnah called "the Seal of Wilayah" (sainthood), nor did any of the Companions, the Tabi'in, or the Four Imams ever mention it. This concept was innovated by the deviant Sufis, each of whom claims that his shaykh is the Seal of the Awliya' (saints). They also bestow the title "Awliya'" upon those who do not fear Allah. The Awliya' are "those who believed and used to fear Allah" (Qur'an 10:63), and their ranks vary according to their piety and strength of faith. Ibn Arabi is not among the Awliya', but rather among the imams of deviation and misguidance. A true Wali (saint) does not claim Wilayah for himself, and the masters of the Awliya' among the Companions feared for themselves from sins and hypocrisy.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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