or in al-Hallaj, or in certain shaykhs about whom they affirm that the Godhead was united with him or indwelt in him—exactly as the Christians speak of the Messiah. These people hold that indwelling (ḥulūl) and union (ittihād) are newly originated events, and that the Eternal entered into, or became one with, the created after the two had previously not been joined.

The other faction, however, speaks of absolute unity (al-waḥdah al-muṭlaqa). The more doctrinally consistent among them say, “It is the very existence of every thing; we do not posit the union of two existences, nor the indwelling of one in the other. Rather, we might state that ‘existence’ is the affirmation of the Real’s existence together with the existence of created things—the two have merged, and each depends upon the other. Thus, when the Real is manifest He is a servant, and when the servant is concealed he is Lord.”

They further maintain, “Once you arrive at the Essential Self-Disclosure—which is this—neither idol-worship nor anything else can harm you. Indeed, they declare openly that He is the very idols and the rivals, and that…"