Divine signs

Author's name: Abu Hayyan al-Tawhidi

Abu Hayyan al-Tawhidi, a Sufi sheikh known as the philosopher of writers and the master of writers, was a prominent figure in the fourth century AH. He lived most of his life in Baghdad. Al-Tawhidi was distinguished by his broad culture, sharp intelligence, and beautiful style. His works were also distinguished by their diverse material and rich content, as well as their anecdotes and allusions, open to multiple interpretations. We know that al-Tawhidi was born in Baghdad and died in Shiraz, but we do not know the exact times of his birth and death. What is certain is that al-Tawhidi was alive in 400 AH, as he himself stated in one of his letters. In his early career, al-Tawhidi worked as a copyist, which provided him with a vast amount of knowledge. His unique book, *Divine Signs*, contains letters based on supplication or prayer, addressing a specific person. It seems as if al-Tawhidi is reaching out to someone like himself, a seeker on the path to guidance and salvation. We find advice on adopting virtues, upholding good morals, contemplating the blessings of the Creator upon humanity, and explaining how to strive for divine satisfaction. Depending on the variation in psychological states, al-Tawhidi's speech ranges between gentleness and severity, and he provides us with definitions of some issues and an understanding of some matters in the behavior of the seeker and the traveler. The book provides us with a clear understanding of Sufism as al-Tawhidi believed in it, who was able to blend in his Sufi references the writing of models for Sufi letters and personal emotional expression, elevating his style to a level unattainable by any Sufi before him, and which al-Tawhidi himself did not reach in any of his surviving works.

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