A Comparative Analysis of Al-Hallaj’s Hulul and Ibn Arabi’s Wahdat al-Wujud: Similarities and Differences

Abstract

This article is motivated by the desire to explore two significant concepts in Islamic Sufi thought: Hulul, popularized by Al-Hallaj, and Wahdat al-Wujud, developed by Ibn Arabi. It examines the mystical background within Islam and how these concepts interact with the broader religious tradition. The objective of this article is to identify the similarities and differences between the two concepts and their implications in both spiritual and philosophical contexts. The research employs a qualitative literature-based methodology that systematically analyzes primary classical works—such as Kitab al-Tawasin and Futuhat al-Makkiyyah—and contemporary scholarly interpretations, complemented by semi-structured expert interviews to validate conceptual interpretations. Data were coded thematically to identify doctrinal patterns, ontological assumptions, and epistemological frameworks in both traditions. The population studied consists of the works of Al-Hallaj and Ibn Arabi, along with the opinions of modern scholars. The findings indicate three key areas of convergence—namely experiential mysticism, the pursuit of divine proximity, and symbolic metaphysical language—while also revealing four fundamental divergences, particularly regarding the locus of divine manifestation, the nature of human–divine union, metaphysical ontology, and the epistemology of spiritual knowledge. The analytical techniques used involve qualitative and comprehensive analysis. These findings demonstrate that Al-Hallaj’s Hulul emphasizes an existential experience of divine indwelling, whereas Ibn Arabi’s Wahdat al-Wujud presents a structured metaphysical framework of existential unity, producing distinct spiritual and philosophical implications. The study concludes that these conceptual differences shape varying Sufi practices and interpretive traditions, influencing both ritual expression and theological discourse. The implications highlight how understanding these distinctions enriches contemporary analysis of Sufi spirituality and offers a clearer mapping of doctrinal development within Islamic mysticism.