And I have written a treatise on this matter which may be sent to the shaykh. Our master, Shaykh ‘Imād al-Dīn, has also written letters on the subject. Allah Most High knows—and He suffices as Knower—that, were it not that I regard protecting those who follow the path of Allah Most High and journey towards Him from the harm of these people as one of the greatest obligations—comparable to defending the believers against the Tatars—those who believe in Allah and His Messenger would have no need for the secrets of the path to be disclosed or its veils torn away. Yet the shaykh—may Allah Most High be gracious to him—knows that the purpose of the prophetic call, indeed, the purpose of creating all creatures, sending down the Scriptures, and sending the messengers, is that all religion should be devoted to Allah alone. It is to call creatures to their Creator, as He Most High says:

“Indeed, We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of good tidings, and a warner, and as one who calls to Allah by His permission, and as an illuminating lamp.”

And He, glory be to Him, says:

“Say, ‘This is my way: I call to Allah with clear insight—I and those who follow me.’”

And He Most High says:

“And indeed, you guide to a straight path—the path of Allah, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Surely, to Allah all matters return.”

These people have misled those on the spiritual path by confusing monotheism—for which Allah Most High sent down the Scriptures and sent the messengers—with union with God, which they have called monotheism, though its true nature is the negation of the Maker and the denial of the Creator.

In earlier times, I was among those who thought well of Ibn ‘Arabī and held him in high esteem because of the beneficial insights I found in his books, such as his discussions in much of “al-Futūhāt,” and in “al-Kinnah,” “al-Muhkam al-Marbūt,” “al-Durrah al-Fākhirah,” “Matāli‘ al-Nujūm,” and similar works. We had not yet become acquainted with