Chosen Saints of God and the Bigoted Mullas — Page 26
these branches of learning. Those who critcise his writings are not to be blamed very much. Because his writings were beyond their understanding. Those who talk against him could be lik ened to those who criticise and deny the prophets of God". . In the opinion of Hazrat Imam FakhrudDin Razi, the illustrious Imam MohyiudDeen Ibn-i-Arabi was a great saint and the Master-Sufi of his age. . Allaama JalaludDin Siyooti considered him to be a patron of saints and the one who walked in the shoes of the Holy Prophet. . Imam Ibn-i-Sa'ad Yaaf'aee used to say that Imam Ibn-1Arabi had reached the pinnacle of sainthood. . Imam Sabki used to consider him a Sign from the Signs of. Allah and that he was the one who held the key of learning in his own hands. . The Sheikh of the Sheikhs, Hazrat Shahaab-ud-Deen Suhrawardi and Hazrat Sheikh KamaaludDeen both acknowledged the exalted position of the Sheikh (Ibn-i-Arabi), who in their eyes was a saint who had reached perfection and performed many miracles". (Mashaahir-i-Islam: vol. 1: p. 187: Sufi Printing &. Publishing Co. , Mandi BahaudDin) (6) HAZRAT SHEIKH-UL-ASHRAQ, SHAHAAB-UD-DEEN SUHRAWARDI (martyred 585 H. ). Sheikh Suhrawardi is considered to be one of the greatest saints of his time. He is generally called the "Martyred Saint" or the "One Martyred for Allah". The. Sheikh had to face some jurisprudents at Halb who failed to answer his logical reasoning and his very convincing arguments. . They, therefore, gave their verdict of apostasy against him, and condemned him to death. On the strength of this verdict Malikuz-Zaahir, a son of Sultan Salah-ud-Din Ayoobi (Saladin) ordered him to be thrown into the prison. The Sheikh was, therefore, shut in the dungeon of the fort at Halb and was strangled to death". (Mu'ajjam-al-Muallafeen: vol. 13: p. 189 and Anwar-i-Auliya: p. 193 and Hukama-i-Islam pt. 2: p. 55-57) 26