Ibn al-Mibrad's life, works and sufi views

This study examines the life, works, and Sufi thought of Ibn al-Mibrad al-Maqdisī, an important Islamic scholar of the 10th/16th century who lived during the Mamluk period. Born and raised in Damascus and belonging to the Hanbali school, Ibn al-Mibrad was distinguished by his proficiency in numerous disciplines such as Hadith, Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), theology (kalām), history, and biography, as well as his significant insights in Sufism. The aim of the thesis is to comprehensively present Ibn al-Mibrad's understanding of Sufism based on primary sources. In this context, it is observed that the author views Sufism not merely as an individual process of self-purification but also as a model of social ethics. It is clear that he regarded Sufi concepts such as patience (ṣabr), gratitude (shukr), sincerity (ikhlāṣ), truthfulness (ṣidq), and reliance upon God (tawakkul) as foundational components for spiritual advancement. Moreover, he criticized unethical behaviors such as backbiting (ghībah), envy (ḥasad), lust (shahwah), delusion (ghurūr), and miserliness (bukhl), advocating that Sufi discipline should be grounded in ethical foundations. One of Ibn al-Mibrad's most significant contributions to Sufi thought is his emphasis on the relationship between knowledge ('ilm) and gnosis (ma'rifah). According to him, Sufi knowledge is not merely theoretical discourse; rather, it represents an inner journey. Sufi practices centered around concepts like the master-disciple (shaykh-murīd) relationship, the Sufi cloak (khirqah), remembrance of God (dhikr), spiritual conversation (ṣuḥbah), spiritual retreat (khalwah), and repentance (tawbah), enable the seeker (sālik) to purify the self (nafs) and cleanse the heart (qalb), thus reaching the ultimate truth (ḥaqīqah). In conclusion, Ibn al-Mibrad's understanding of Sufism is broadly aligned with classical Sufi thought and contributes significantly to it through ethical, epistemological, and metaphysical dimensions. Therefore, his Sufi heritage remains a valuable resource for contemporary research.