Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah sanctify his soul—said:

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Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muhammad ibn ʿAlī al-Hakīm al-Tirmidhī made unacceptable statements in his book The Seal of Sainthood, contrary to the Quran, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the early generations and the leading scholars. He exaggerated concerning sainthood, speaking of the seal of the saints, the infallibility of the saints, and similar matters that paved the way for the misguidance of Ibn ʿArabī and others like him, who discussed this subject with falsehood and transgression. Among his statements is the following:

“This poor man is then asked: ‘Describe for us the stations of the saints once they have exerted themselves to the utmost in truthfulness. How many stations do they have? Where are the stations of those given to falsehood? Where are those who have passed beyond the armies? By what means did they pass beyond them? Where does their journey end? Where is the station of the people of gatherings and conversation? How many are they? By what have they earned this as a right from their Lord? What is their conversation, and what do they say in private? With what do they begin their intimate discourse? And with what