al-Hakim at-Tirmidhi

Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hakim at-Tirmidhi (c. 205-318 AH / c. 820-930 CE) was one of the most original and visionary thinkers in early Islamic spirituality. Born in Tirmidh (modern Termez, Uzbekistan), he is not to be confused with the hadith compiler Imam at-Tirmidhi, though both were from Tirmidh. He studied hadith under major scholars of his era.

Al-Hakim at-Tirmidhi is the founder of a distinctive spiritual epistemology that distinguished between the knowledge of the heart (ma'rifah) and the knowledge of the mind (ilm). He developed the concept of walayah (sainthood/closeness to Allah) in systematic form, exploring the hierarchy of spiritual states and the nature of divine protection and guidance for those who draw near to Allah. He faced opposition and was reportedly exiled from Tirmidh for a time due to suspicion about his ideas.

His most important works include Khatm al-Awliya' (The Seal of the Saints), which explores the concept of the highest degree of sainthood; Adab an-Nafs (Etiquette of the Soul); and Masa'il al-Maknunah (The Hidden Questions). He authored several dozen works in total, many of which have been studied by later scholars interested in the theoretical foundations of Islamic spirituality.

Al-Hakim at-Tirmidhi is regarded as one of the intellectual precursors who shaped the conceptual vocabulary and theoretical framework that later systematic Sufi thought would build upon. His ideas influenced Ibn Arabi and other major figures in Islamic spirituality. He passed away in approximately 318 AH in Tirmidh.