The Spiritual Knowledge and the Key to the Sufi Chains
Rasulullah ﷺ said in another hadith: “I am the city of wisdom, and Ali is its gate”, and in another narration: “I am the house of wisdom, and Ali is its gate”【3】.
This wisdom, as our Sheikh, Sheikh Khalifa Muhammad Al-Kasnazani (may Allah sanctify his soul) explains, is divine knowledge that reaches the heart of the servant directly from Allah the Almighty. This wisdom comes through inspiration, and its sources flow from the heart of the inspired servant to their tongue, providing it at the right time to the right person, as Allah says: “He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and to whom He gives wisdom has certainly been given much good, and none will remember except those of understanding”【4】.
Imam Ali’s (May Allah be Pleased with Him) Status in the Esoteric Knowledge
Emphasizing this meaning, the author of “Fayd al-Qadir” explains “Al-Jami’ al-Saghir” saying: “Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (May Allah be Pleased with Him) is the door through which one enters to wisdom, and what an exalted rank this is and what an elevated distinction it is.”
Another hadith adds: “Ibn Mas’ud (RA) narrated: I was with the Prophet ﷺ and was asked about Ali (May Allah be Pleased with Him), and he said: {Wisdom was divided into ten parts, and Ali was given nine parts, while the people were given one}”【5】.
Imam Ali (May Allah be Pleased with Him) and the Guardianship of the Wayfarers
The consensus of the Sufi wayfarers acknowledges Imam Ali’s (May Allah be Pleased with Him) position in the Sufi chains. It is emphasized that all the Sufi chains are spiritually connected to Imam Ali (May Allah be Pleased with Him). Imam Junayd (may Allah sanctify his soul) affirmed this saying: “May Allah be pleased with Commander of the Believers, Ali, had he not been busy with wars, he would have imparted to us many meanings of this knowledge, as he was the one granted divine knowledge.”【6】.
Imam Ali (May Allah be Pleased with Him) and Divine Knowledge
The greatest Sheikh, Ibn Arabi, in his “Futuhat al-Makkiya,” narrates from Sheikh Junayd al-Baghdadi (may Allah sanctify his soul), saying: “No one attains the level of truth until a thousand righteous witnesses testify that he is a heretic,” referring to Imam Ali’s (May Allah be Pleased with Him) knowledge in spiritual stations.
Linking Sufism with Imam Ali (May Allah be Pleased with Him)
Sheikh Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Tadfi narrated that he saw Rasulullah ﷺ, who said to him: “O son, why don’t you speak?” and then he asked him to speak to the people. When he hesitated, Imam Ali (May Allah be Pleased with Him) appeared to him and said: “Open your mouth”, and this illustrates the connection between Imam Ali and spiritual knowledge, as his divine knowledge has been the foundation of inspiration for many Sufi leaders.
Sufism and Spiritual Leadership
Al-Harali mentions in “Al-Luma” that the chain of the Sufi way ends at Imam Ali (May Allah be Pleased with Him) as the head of the knowledgeable ones, and he has sayings and secrets that no one else has shared. This truth was affirmed by the greatest Sheikh, Ibn Arabi, in “Futuhat al-Makkiya” stating: “If a meaning must appear in a tangible form, it also refers to Ali bin Abi Talib, the highest knower in the world.”【13】
Imam Ali (May Allah be Pleased with Him) and His Sufi Vision
Many Sufi imams have praised the rank of Imam Ali (May Allah be Pleased with Him) in Sufism, confirming that he was the first to speak about the science of truth and demonstrated it. Sheikh Ahmad Zarrouk (may Allah be pleased with him) also confirmed that Imam Ali (May Allah be Pleased with Him) is the Imam of Sufis and the greatest of them, having the divine knowledge that Allah granted him.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is evident that Imam Ali (May Allah be Pleased with Him) is not only a courageous fighter but also the head of spiritual leadership, a guide to the nation in divine knowledge and Sufism.