The Science of Sufism
The Science of Sufism
III (IX. From the third (IXth) century onwards, works have been written on the subjects of the heart, soul, and nafs, their various states, the morals and manners of disciples, the explanation of Sufi states and stations, evrād and du’a, and the views of important Sufis. In addition to the jurisprudential aspects of worship, there have been works focusing on the spiritual and Sufi meanings of worship, the understanding of Sufism in accordance with the Qur’an and Sunnah, the errors of deviant Sufi groups that do not comply with this understanding, and the Sufi groups that follow the Ahl al-Sunnah path. Sufi life largely developed within the framework of these works, and the science of Sufism and Sufi life were born from them.
Science of Sufism
Science of Sufism
Sufi Literature
Many works written in the field of Sufism have survived to the present day. In the early periods, most works were written in Arabic. Later, with authors such as Ebû Saîd-i Ebü’l-Hayr, Hücvîrî, Baba Tâhir-i Uryân, Senâî, Ferîdüddin Attâr, Mevlânâ Celâleddîn-i Rûmî, Şebüsterî, Fahreddîn-i Irâkī, and Molla Câmî writing some of their works in Persian, Persian also became a language of Sufism. Ahmed Yesevî expressing his Sufi life and understanding in Turkish, and many of his disciples continuing this tradition in Turkistan, added Turkish alongside Arabic and Persian to the language of Sufism. In Anatolia, it spread especially through the poems and works of many Sufis including Yûnus Emre.
Science of Sufism
Science of Sufism
Literature of Sufi Concepts
Sufi Terminology (Istılâhâtü’s-sûfiyye)
With the birth of Sufism, concepts mentioned in the Qur’an and hadith such as repentance, patience, remembrance (dhikr), gratitude, fear, piety, struggle (mujāhada), sincerity (ikhlāṣ), gained new meanings among Sufis and became technical terms (istilah). Over time, as new terms were added, a specialized literature of Sufi terminology emerged. Generally called “Istılâhâtü’s-sûfiyye,” this type of literature arose from the need for Sufis to communicate their spiritual and secret meanings to each other, and to prevent misunderstanding of Sufi matters by the uninitiated. Most of these terms are Arabic, some are Persian, and there are also Turkish terms such as the Triads, the Sevens, the Forties, dede, baba, ata, el almak (to take hand), el vermek (to give hand), and erenler.
Science of Sufism
Science of Sufism
Biography Literature
Tabakāt (Ranks)
Some works in the field of Sufism belong to the “tabakāt” genre, which compile the virtues and wise sayings of Sufis. These works not only narrate the life stories of Sufi practitioners but also point to the spiritual states and stations they experienced, and the paths and doctrines they adhered to. The earliest tabakāt books that have reached us are Muhammed b. Hüseyin es-Sülemî’s *Tabakātü’s-sûfiyye* and Ebû Nuaym el-İsfahânî’s extensive work *Hilyetü’l-evliyâʾ*. In subsequent centuries, many independent works and supplements to these were written.
Science of Sufism
Science of Sufism
