Sha'rani, al-

Sha'rani, al-

 orig. 'Abd al-Wahhab ibn Ahmad

(born 1492, Cairo—died 1565, Cairo) Egyptian scholar and mystic, founder of the Sufi order known as the Sha'rawiyyah. 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.