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Tariq al-Shaykh al-Akbar
“No seeker chooses a path—the path chooses the seeker.”
This Tariq is not about personal preference or emotional affinity. Your eternal essence (‘ayn thābita) holds the blueprint of your destined path. Love for Ibn al-Arabi alone does not place you on his path; you are called only if this Tariq is inscribed in your essence from eternity. Ask yourself: Is your soul whispering for this door?
Ahmed Muhammad Ali
Founded in 2018 by Shaykh Ahmed Muhammad Ali of Cairo, Tariq al-Shaykh al-Akbar emerged from a divine mandate—fulfilling the eternal will of Ibn al-Arabi himself. From childhood, Shaykh Ahmed was consumed by a passionate devotion to the Shaykh al-Akbar, a bond that ignited his spiritual destiny. His connection to the Ibn al-Arabi Foundation dates back to its 2008 inception, making him among its first supporters. In 2015, Allah bestowed upon him a rare grace: kashf (spiritual unveiling) and the unparalleled honor of becoming Ibn al-Arabi’s direct spiritual disciple—a station longed for by saints across centuries. With the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ explicit permission, he was granted the authority to guide seekers through bay‘ah (initiation).
Spiritual states (ahwāl) are ever-changing—a natural balance (mīzān) on the journey. Do not mistake their fluctuation for instability in the path. The perfected ones, like Bayazid Bastami, find tamkīn (steadfastness) within these shifts, abiding in unity beyond dawn and dusk.
Abrar Ahmed Shahi
In Pakistan, Abrar Ahmed Shahi—among the first to pledge allegiance to Shaykh Ahmed on *19 November 2015*—is entrusted with initiating sincere seekers into this Tariq. For those unable to connect directly with Shaykh Ahmed in Egypt, Abrar Ahmed Shahi serves as a spiritual conduit, ensuring the path remains accessible to lovers of Ibn al-Arabi’s wisdom.
Tariq Highlights
Direct spiritual lineage from Ibn al-Arabi, authorized by the Prophet ﷺ.
The Three Stations of the Way
Like the three grades of Dīn (Islam, Iman, Ihsan), this Tariq demands progression through three stations:
Islam: Submission—bending your will before the Divine.
Iman: Conviction—unshakable faith in the unseen.
Ihsan: Perfection—witnessing the Divine in all states.
Many enter but linger at the first gate. True seekers ascend. Where do you stand?
Dhikr Beyond Words
Here, Dhikr (remembrance) transcends tongue, heart, or mind. It is total immersion—a state where every breath, action, and silence becomes worship, as witnessed in the life of the Prophet ﷺ: “He remembered Allah in every moment.” This is the comprehensive Dhikr Ibn al-Arabi embodied.
The Nature of Spiritual States
“Spiritual states (ahwāl) are like a scale (mīzān) that lacks permanence (thubūt). They are perpetually changing.”
“Do not mistake this fluctuation (taghayyur) for a defect in the path (ṭarīqat).”
“While all experience changing states, the perfected ones (ahl Allāh) attain constancy (istiqrār) within these fluctuations.”
Example: When Abū Yazīd al-Basṭāmī declared,
“Now I have neither dawn nor dusk,”
“The transformation of states is a natural scale (ṭabīʿī mīzān) witnessed by the seeker (sālik) at every stage of the path.”