Edition of Abd-al-Ali Ansari's Unity of Being Treatise with an Introduction

Unity of being (wahdat al-wujud) is the highest form of the unity of God (tawhid) and the fundamental principle of theoretical mysticism. It was since Ibn al-Arabi's time in 7th century that theoretical mysticism was consistently developed. Since then the concept of Unity of being has continued to receive attention and many scholars have written books and treatises both in proving and rejecting it. Abd-al-Ali Mohammad Ibn Nezam-al-din Mohammd Ansari, a leading 12th century Indian theologian of the Hanafī school, is one of these scholars. Following Ibn al-Arabi's point of views, he has tried to rationalize the Unity of being and to justify its multiplicities and status. Explicating themes running through the treatise, this article attempts to edit it as a reference in mysticism, especially in the pivotal subject of Unity of being.