orig. ʽAbd al-Wahhāb ibn Aḥmad
born 1492, Cairo
died 1565, Cairo
Egyptian scholar and mystic, founder of the Sufi order known as the Shaʽrawiyyah.
Throughout his career he sought to avoid the extremism he saw in the various theological sects of Islam, as well as in other Sufi orders; his aim was to take the best from each, ignoring conflicts between them. Since his thoughts and writings were unsystematic and confused, the appeal of his teachings depended largely on his personal presence. The order gradually declined after his death, though it remained popular until the 19th century.