THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE THOUGHT OF MARIFETULLAH IN SUFISM UNTIL THE 5TH CENTURY

Abstract

The Quran verse "I have created the jinn and the people only that they may worship me" (51:56) directed both the Kalam
scholars and the Sufis's envision of the universe. Acting on the relevant Quran verse, the Kalam scholars state "The first thing
Allah Almighty makes fard (religious duty) is the mârifetullah (knowing and recognizing Allah)” opinion, which was adopted
by Sufis and the Sufis then put forward the ideas of mârifetullah. According to Sufis, mârifetullah first begins with mental
inferences. However, the desired mârifetullah is obtained through observation and inspiration. In Sufi thought, it is understood
that mariifetullah is at the basis of their thought system. It is observed that the Sufis examined the issue of mariifetullah in two
different ways. According to the first method, it is to know and believe in God's existence, oneness and attributes. The second
way is for the person to know God Almighty with certainty. In this article, the subject of mârifetullah in Sufi thought from the
discourses of Muhâsibî, Tirmizî, Serrâc, Mekkî, Kelâbâzî, Kuşeyrî and Hücvîrî was examined.