8 things that the Seeker of Truth must not rely on: Sufi Quotes by Ibne Arabi from Fusus al-Hikaam

Those of Sufi path often refer to Ibne Arabi as the ‘Al-Shaykh’ as matter of reverence since he is hailed as the forefather of Sufism. Ibne Arabi documented some great advice for seeker of the Truth in his famed book Fusus al-Hikam [The Seals of Wisdom].

• The true spiritual knower (Al-Arif) doesn’t depend on listening to Allah (Al-Haqq) through worldly things and objects.
• Don’t trust anything that comes to you and you don’t know its spiritual source.
• Every work of craft or art (fann) that doesn’t bring about spiritual knowledge in you is not to depend on.
• Every state of exterior submission (in Islam) which is not supported by a deeper inner Iman can’t be relied upon.
• Every step of spiritual intention (Irada) that has no real impact on you can’t be trusted.
• Every embarrassment at wrongdoings that doesn’t include vow of abandoning is unreliable
• A spiritual Makaan which is not Makaana [a true spiritual station] is unreliable.
• Every conversation of a murid with his shaykh, during which the disciple is actually conversing with his own carnal ego, can’t be relied upon.