The Concept of al-Ittihad: Abu Yazid al-Busthami's Thought and its Relevance in Sufism
Article Sidebar
-
Baqa', Fana', Sufism
Abstract
This research aims to examine the concept of al-Ittihad in the thought of Abu Yazid al-Busthami and its relevance within the tradition of Sufism, particularly in the context of Islamic spirituality. Al-Ittihad refers to the mystical union between human and God, where a Sufi feels a dissolution into the Divine during a profound spiritual experience. This concept is considered one of the central themes in Sufism but often sparks theological controversy among orthodox scholars, especially since it is perceived as violating the principle of tauhid (the oneness of God). Through shathiyat (mystical utterances) such as "Glory be to Me," Abu Yazid expressed his experiences in the states of fana' (annihilation of the self) and baqa' (subsistence in God), which form the core of his mystical journey towards al-Ittihad. This study employs a literature review method by analyzing classical Sufi texts and scholars' interpretations regarding this concept. Additionally, it explores the relevance of al-Ittihad in the modern context, where Sufism has seen a revival of interest among both Muslims and non-Muslims as a response to the spiritual quest in the face of modern challenges. The research findings indicate that although al-Ittihad is often misunderstood and debated, it remains a significant aspect of the spiritual journey in Sufism. The experience of al-Ittihad offers a way to deepen one's relationship with God through the dissolution of ego and worldly attachments, and it plays a crucial role in modern Sufi studies as a means of achieving profound spiritual intimacy.
Full text article
References
Abaddi, S. (2025). Optimizing double glazing through time and work measurements and simulation. Journal of Simulation. https://doi.org/10.1080/17477778.2024.2446749
Abdallah, R., Abokhoza, R., & Aissani, R. (2024). The Use of Multimedia in Newspapers: A Study on the Websites of Emirati Newspapers. Studies in Media and Communication, 12(2), 241–252. https://doi.org/10.11114/smc.v12i2.6645
Akbar, M. R., Mizar, A., Muladi, M., Ching, H.-Y., & Amin, M. A. (2023). Techno-Economical Analysis of Hybrid PV System for School Industry. 2023 IEEE 3rd International Conference in Power Engineering Applications: Shaping Sustainability Through Power Engineering Innovation, ICPEA 2023, 191–196. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICPEA56918.2023.10093195
Al-Klibi, N. A. H. S., & Al Abdily, D. H. (2024). The Effect of the Agility Supply Chain in Enhancing the Value of the Organization Analytical Research at Al-Ittihad Food Industries Ltd. In W. A.G., A.-M. A.R.H., K. A.N., A.-H. D.M.H., I. A.K., A. D.H., H. B.J., F. M.D., J. H.A.G., A. A.M., M. A.S., & A.-M. T.J. (Eds.), AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 3092, Issue 1). American Institute of Physics. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0200470
Anoosheh, S. M., & Jahromi, M. K. (2020). A mystical reading of ’s translat on by robert bly and leonard lewisohn. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 10(2), 230–237. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1002.12
Arikewuyo, A. N. (2019). A comparative study of al-ghazali’s and ibn taymiyyah’s views on sufism. International Journal of Islamic Thought, 17(1), 15–24. https://doi.org/10.24035/IJIT.17.2020.166
Artiran, M. K. (2019). A cross-cultural redefinition of rational emotive and cognitive behavior therapy: From the west to the middle east. In A Cross-Cultural Redefinition of Rational Emotive and Cognitive Behavior Therapy: From the West to the Middle East. Taylor and Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429276873
Awofeso, N., Al Imam, S., & Ahmed, A. (2019). Content analysis of media coverage of childhood obesity topics in UAE newspapers and popular social media platforms, 2014-2017. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 8(2), 81–89. https://doi.org/10.15171/ijhpm.2018.100
Azwar, Z. (2020). The Role of Substantive Understanding Approach in the Changes of Fiqh. Al-’Adalah, 17(1), 71–96. https://doi.org/10.24042/adalah.v17i1.6031
Bashkin, O. (2020). UNFORGETTABLE RADICALISM: AL-ITTIHAD’S WORDS IN HEBREW NOVELS. In The Arab Lefts: Histories and Legacies, 1950s-1970s (pp. 18–38). Edinburgh University Press. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85200554657&partnerID=40&md5=e91256128537bbc5ff9cd007deb189f2
Boéri, J., & Fattah, A. (2020). Manipulation of translation in hard news reporting on the Gulf crisis: combining narrative and appraisal. Meta (Canada), 65(1), 73–99. https://doi.org/10.7202/1073637AR
Bozbuga, Y. (2021). A Criticism of Sunbul Sinan Efendi’s Work Risalah al-Tahqiqiyya: Ar-Rahs va’l-Vaks. Islam Tetkikleri Dergisi, 11(1), 167–208. https://doi.org/10.26650/iuitd.2020.856972
Daneshgar, M. (2021). The Prophet Shaving: Persians and the Origin of the Malay Hikayat Nabi Bercukur. Islam - Zeitschrift Fur Geschichte Und Kultur Des Islamischen Orients, 98(2), 394–424. https://doi.org/10.1515/islam-2021-0028
Ellethy, Y. (2020). A controversial orthodoxy: Al-Ghazali’s revival of the religious sciences. NTT Journal for Theology and the Study of Religion, 74(4), 375–386. https://doi.org/10.5117/NTT2020.4.005.ELLE
Farda, S. (2019). A brief look at the flow of mystical thoughts in turkish literature and mention of the famous sufis of this literature. International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies, 2(2), 13–17. https://doi.org/10.53894/IJIRSS.V2I2.15
Faruqi, D. (2023). 19th Century Moroccan Sufism and the 2011 Syrian Revolution: The Legacy of Shaykh Mu?ammad ibn Mas‘?d al-F?s?. Journal of Islamic and Muslim Studies, 8(1), 1–35. https://doi.org/10.2979/jims.00002
Hamid, M. A., Basid, A., & Aulia, I. N. (2021). The reconstruction of Arab women role in media: a critical discourse analysis. Social Network Analysis and Mining, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13278-021-00809-0
Hamza Al-Qasimi, R. H., Hasan, A. B., & Mohammad, W. A. (2024). Effect of Breed on Some Traits of Lamb Carcasses of Iraqi Local Sheep. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1371(7). https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1371/7/072014
Kars, A. (2022). A ‘SUFI’ EPISTLE ON SPIRITUAL POVERTY, AND ITS AUTHORS: AUTHENTICITY, AUTHORITY, AND GENRE IN TEXTUAL REPRODUCTION. Journal of Islamic Studies, 33(2), 203–229. https://doi.org/10.1093/jis/etab076
Keshavmurthy, P. (2023). A Novel Model of Mind in B?del’s Sinai of Enlightenment. Journal of World Philosophies, 8(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.2979/jourworlphil.8.1.01
Khalid, I., Gulzar, S., & Amin, M. (2021). A critical review of shamsuddin azeemi’s “mur?qabah” through the lens of the qur’?n and had?th. Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization, 11(1), 301–317. https://doi.org/10.32350/JITC.111.16
Malik, M. P. A., & Hamid, F. A. F. A. (2022). (17th Century Classical Islamic Malay Writing: A Discussion of Selected Books). Journal of Al-Tamaddun, 17(2), 181–192. https://doi.org/10.22452/JAT.vol17no2.14
Mohammed, I. J., & Rashid, A. G. (2023). EFFECT OF THE AFFILIATION DIMENSION AT WORK ON ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT AN APPLIED STUDY OF ETIHAD FOOD INDUSTRIES COMPANY LTDA. SUGAR AND OIL INDUSTRY / BABYLON GOVERNORATE. International Journal of Professional Business Review, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2023.v8i2.924
Öztürk, A. (2024). {-UbAn} SUFFIX IN KOKSHETAU COPY OF DÎVÂN-I HIKMET. Turk Kulturu ve Haci Bektas Veli - Arastirma Dergisi, 109, 311–326. https://doi.org/10.60163/tkhcbva.1417717
Polat, M. (2019). A critical edition of the ris?la f? raq? al-muta?awwifa by hüsam Çelebi. Islam Arastirmalari Dergisi, 2019(41), 131–170. https://doi.org/10.26570/isad.513168
Sahid, U., Wasliman, I., Muchtar, H. S., & Insan, H. S. (2021). Management of Student Characteristics Through Extracurricular Activities in The School Environment Based on Islamic Boarding Schools. Munaddhomah, 2(2), 116–125. https://doi.org/10.31538/munaddhomah.v2i2.97
Samson, F. (2022). A Committed Sufi Intellectual Face to “Salafist Elitism”. Interview with Souleymane Bachir Diagne. Cahiers d’Etudes Africaines, 248(4), 885–900. https://doi.org/10.4000/etudesafricaines.40312
Siddiqui, S. (2019). A brief survey of folk sufi poets of India. IUP Journal of English Studies, 14(1), 79–92. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85064080222&partnerID=40&md5=bf0bc5be7db9667a8e9a93d37a427c64
Tahat, K., Mansoori, A., Tahat, D., & Habes, M. (2024). Examining opinion journalism in the United Arab Emirates national press: A comparative analysis. Newspaper Research Journal, 45(3), 351–369. https://doi.org/10.1177/07395329241255159
Topsfield, A. (2022). A Note on Sufi Snakes and Ladders. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 32(4), 1016–1029. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1356186321000547
Wieringa, E. P. (2019). A nativist defence of Javanism in late 19th-century Java: The Suluk Ga?oloco and its co-texts in the S?rat Suluk Panaraga compilation. Indonesia and the Malay World, 47(139), 335–352. https://doi.org/10.1080/13639811.2019.1652436
Authors
Copyright (c) 2024 Yogi Fery Hidayat
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
