Hisbāniyya (Sufi Terminology)

Hisbāniyya... that is, Sophists (Sofestāʾiyya)... have been entirely accused of ignorance regarding the world. In other words, Hisbāniyya has been charged with complete ignorance. The people of speculative reason (ahl al-naẓar) have reached consensus (ijmāʿ) on this matter. Because they knew their state in this regard, they ascribed ignorance (jahāla) as a nisba (attribution) to them. However, both groups have erred. The errors of the Hisbāniyya are that they accepted that all change in the world is, in its entirety, the same as the rational substance (jawhar) that existed in the state of aḥadiyya (absolute oneness) prior to this form. This rational substance existing externally... only exists together with this, that is, with this form... That is, it exists together with the substance. Just as this form only comprehends with this, that is, with this substance. If they had accepted the aḥadiyya (absolute oneness) of the very substance itself, they would have attained the degree of verification (taḥqīq) in this matter. Then, they would have been among the ʿārifūn (those who possess maʿrifa, experiential knowledge of God) who know what is what. (Sofyavi, 224)