An Analysis of the Critiques of Sufi Terminologies (Ẓāhir wa-Bāṭin, ʿIlm al-Khafī, and Ḥulūl)

Abstract

The terminology of Sufism has always played a crucial role in shaping mystical thought and practice within the Islamic tradition. Concepts such as ẓāhir wa-bāṭin (the outward and the inward dimensions), ʿilm al-khafī (hidden or esoteric knowledge), and ḥulūl (indwelling or incarnation) have been central to Sufi discourse, providing symbolic and metaphysical frameworks for understanding the relationship between the Divine and the human. However, these terminologies also became subjects of sharp criticism from opponents of Sufism, who argued that such expressions either risked theological ambiguity or contradicted established doctrines of Islamic orthodoxy. This study explores the major critiques directed at these Sufi terms, analyzing the intellectual, theological, and historical contexts of both the Sufi usage and the criticisms raised against them. By examining these debates, the paper seeks to highlight the dynamic interplay between mysticism and theology in Islam, as well as the boundaries drawn by scholars between acceptable mystical expression and doctrinal deviation.