ENCYCLOPEDIA AND SPIRITUAL JOURNEY (AL-SAYR WA AL-SULŪK) A STUDY OF IBRÂHÎM ḤAḲḲI ERZURUMÎ’S MA‘RIFETNÂME

NAOKI YAMAMOTO

ABSTRACT

İbrahim Hakkı Erzurumi’s understanding of Tasawwuf in his work “Marifetname”
revolves around a profound exploration of Islamic mysticism and spiritual
knowledge. In this seminal Suf text, Erzurumi offers a concise yet comprehensive
framework for individuals seeking a deeper connection with the divine. Erzurumi
emphasizes the central importance of self-purifcation and inner refnement as key
aspects of Tasawwuf. He advocates for a sincere and profound relationship with God,
achieved through introspection, meditation, and the cultivation of moral virtues.
Tis spiritual journey is characterized by a continuous quest for self-awareness and
the eradication of ego-driven desires. One of Erzurumi’s distinctive contributions is
his emphasis on the unity of all existence and the interconnectedness of the material
and spiritual realms. He posits that true knowledge of God (marifet) transcends
mere intellectual understanding and requires a direct experiential connection with
the divine through spiritual practices and devotion. Also characteristic of his work
is his articulation of the process of this spiritual ascent of Suf in the form of an
encyclopedia. He interpreted the classifcation of sciences not as a mere organizing
of different sciences but as a process of journey to understand the structure of the
world as created by Allah. Here, we fnd a certain synthesis of the classifcation of
sciences and Tasawwuf in the Ottoman Empire.