Approaches of Sûfîs Towards Begging in Early Sûfî Thought

Ömer Tay

Makale detayları

Approaches of Sûfîs Towards Begging in Early Sûfî Thought

Yazarlar:

Ömer Tay

Yayıncı:

Afyon Kocatepe University

Ana Başlıklar:

Tasavvuf

Dergi:

Kocatepe İslami İlimler Dergisi Vol.8 Issue 1, pp.112-125

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001350289

pISSN:

2757-8399

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 Islam is a religion that encourages work and productivity. Begging, on the other hand, stands in contrast to this encouragement. Nevertheless, within Islamic society, there have been individuals who, for various reasons, turned to begging, and even groups who adopted it as a means of livelihood. Among these were certain Sufis and dervishes. This study explores the approach of Sufi thought toward the phenomenon of begging, focusing on the early period of Sufism spanning the 2nd to 6th centuries AH. It examines how begging was addressed in Sufi literature and in the sayings of prominent Sufis, analyzing the concept in relation to terms such as dervish, faqir poor person, and zâhid ascetic. Sufi texts contain examples of dervishes who resorted to begging during their travels or after giving away all their possessions to the poor. Such cases raise important questions about whether begging is acceptable from a Sufi perspective. The findings of the research indicate that, generally, Sufis did not view begging favorably. However, in certain exceptional situations, it was seen as a permissible act. These situations included begging due to life-threatening hunger, inability to earn a living because of illness, or instances where spiritual masters murshids instructed their disciples murids to beg as a means of cultivating humility. Still, such acts of begging were considered temporary and need-driven solutions. Turning begging into a profession was unequivocally criticized. By analyzing the Sufi view on begging through the lenses of spiritual training and social responsibility, this study seeks to reveal the attitudes adopted by Sufi scholars on the matter. Sufis did not regard begging as a profession; instead, it was sometimes seen as a transitional means or a tool for spiritual training. Dervishes focused not on material gain, but on spiritual wealth, using begging either to discipline the ego or as a last resort for survival. There is a significant distinction between those who beg for worldly gain and dervishes operating within the Sufi worldview. For the Sufi, begging is not a means of accumulation, but a path toward spiritual maturity and surrender.

 Islam is a religion that encourages work and productivity. Begging, on the other hand, stands in contrast to this encouragement. Nevertheless, within Islamic society, there have been individuals who, for various reasons, turned to begging, and even groups who adopted it as a means of livelihood. Among these were certain Sufis and dervishes. This study explores the approach of Sufi thought toward the phenomenon of begging, focusing on the early period of Sufism spanning the 2nd to 6th centuries AH. It examines how begging was addressed in Sufi literature and in the sayings of prominent Sufis, analyzing the concept in relation to terms such as dervish, faqir poor person, and zâhid ascetic. Sufi texts contain examples of dervishes who resorted to begging during their travels or after giving away all their possessions to the poor. Such cases raise important questions about whether begging is acceptable from a Sufi perspective. The findings of the research indicate that, generally, Sufis did not view begging favorably. However, in certain exceptional situations, it was seen as a permissible act. These situations included begging due to life-threatening hunger, inability to earn a living because of illness, or instances where spiritual masters murshids instructed their disciples murids to beg as a means of cultivating humility. Still, such acts of begging were considered temporary and need-driven solutions. Turning begging into a profession was unequivocally criticized. By analyzing the Sufi view on begging through the lenses of spiritual training and social responsibility, this study seeks to reveal the attitudes adopted by Sufi scholars on the matter. Sufis did not regard begging as a profession; instead, it was sometimes seen as a transitional means or a tool for spiritual training. Dervishes focused not on material gain, but on spiritual wealth, using begging either to discipline the ego or as a last resort for survival. There is a significant distinction between those who beg for worldly gain and dervishes operating within the Sufi worldview. For the Sufi, begging is not a means of accumulation, but a path toward spiritual maturity and surrender.

 Islam is a religion that encourages work and productivity. Begging, on the other hand, stands in contrast to this encouragement. Nevertheless, within Islamic society, there have been individuals who, for various reasons, turned to begging, and even groups who adopted it as a means of livelihood. Among these were certain Sufis and dervishes. This study explores the approach of Sufi thought toward the phenomenon of begging, focusing on the early period of Sufism spanning the 2nd to 6th centuries AH. It examines how begging was addressed in Sufi literature and in the sayings of prominent Sufis, analyzing the concept in relation to terms such as dervish, faqir poor person, and zâhid ascetic. Sufi texts contain examples of dervishes who resorted to begging during their travels or after giving away all their possessions to the poor. Such cases raise important questions about whether begging is acceptable from a Sufi perspective. The findings of the research indicate that, generally, Sufis did not view begging favorably. However, in certain exceptional situations, it was seen as a permissible act. These situations included begging due to life-threatening hunger, inability to earn a living because of illness, or instances where spiritual masters murshids instructed their disciples murids to beg as a means of cultivating humility. Still, such acts of begging were considered temporary and need-driven solutions. Turning begging into a profession was unequivocally criticized. By analyzing the Sufi view on begging through the lenses of spiritual training and social responsibility, this study seeks to reveal the attitudes adopted by Sufi scholars on the matter. Sufis did not regard begging as a profession; instead, it was sometimes seen as a transitional means or a tool for spiritual training. Dervishes focused not on material gain, but on spiritual wealth, using begging either to discipline the ego or as a last resort for survival. There is a significant distinction between those who beg for worldly gain and dervishes operating within the Sufi worldview. For the Sufi, begging is not a means of accumulation, but a path toward spiritual maturity and surrender.

 İslâm, çalışmayı ve üretmeyi teşvik eden bir dindir. Dilencilik ise bu teşvikin tam tersine bir durumdur. Ancak İslâm toplumunda zaman zaman çeşitli sebeplerle dilenenler ve bu dilenmeyi bir geçim yoluna dönüştüren zümreler olmuştur. Söz konusu zümrelerin içerisinde bazı mutasavvıflar ve dervişler de bulunmuştur. Bu çalışmada tasavvuf düşüncesinin dilencilik olgusuna yönelik yaklaşımı, hicrî II-VI. yüzyılları kapsayan erken dönem tasavvufî anlayış çerçevesinde incelenmiştir. Tasavvuf eserleri ve mutasavvıfların sözleri ışığında dilenciliğin nasıl ele alındığı derviş, fakir ve zâhid gibi kavramlarla ilişkilendirilerek detaylı bir şekilde analiz edilmiştir. Tasavvuf literatüründe bazı dervişlerin yolculukları sırasında veya tüm mal varlıklarını fakirlere dağıttıktan sonra dilenciliğe başvurduğuna dair örnekler bulunmaktadır. Bu durum, dilenciliğin tasavvuf açısından kabul edilebilir olup olmadığına dair önemli soruları gündeme getirmiştir. Araştırmanın bulguları tasavvuf ehlinin genel olarak dilenciliği hoş karşılamadığını, ancak bazı özel durumlarda meşrû bir eylem olarak kabul edilebileceğini ortaya koymaya çalışmıştır. Bu özel durumlar arasında ölüm tehlikesi veya açlık nedeniyle dilenciliğe başvurma, hastalık sebebiyle geçim sağlayamama ve mürşidlerin müridlerini alçakgönüllülük kazanmaları için dilenmeye teşvik etmeleri gibi durumlar yer almaktadır. Ancak bu tür dilencilik, geçici ve bir ihtiyaçtan doğan bir çözüm olarak değerlendirilirken, meslek haline getirilmesi kesinlikle eleştirilmiştir. Çalışma, tasavvufun dilenciliğe bakışını hem mânevî terbiye hem de sosyal sorumluluk çerçevesinde inceleyerek mutasavvıfların bu konuda nasıl bir yaklaşım sergilediğini Bu çalışma, tasavvufun dilenciliğe bakışını mânevî terbiye ve sosyal sorumluluk çerçevesinde analiz ederek, mutasavvıf âlimlerin bu konudaki tutumlarını ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır. Tasavvuf ehli, dilenciliği meslek olarak kabul etmez; dilencilik daha çok geçici bir çözüm ya da mânevî bir terbiye aracı olarak görülür. Dervişler, maddi kazançtan ziyade mânevî zenginliğe odaklanır ve dilenciliği nefsi terbiye etmek veya hayatta kalmak için kullanırlar. Dilencilik, dünyevî kazanç amacı güden kişilerle dervişlerin bakış açısı arasında önemli farklar vardır. Tasavvuf ehli, dilenciliği biriktirme aracı değil, mânevî olgunlaşma ve teslimiyet olarak değerlendirir.

Makale detayları

Approaches of Sûfîs Towards Begging in Early Sûfî Thought

Yazarlar:

Ömer Tay

Yayıncı:

Afyon Kocatepe University

Ana Başlıklar:

Tasavvuf

Dergi:

Kocatepe İslami İlimler Dergisi Vol.8 Issue 1, pp.112-125

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001350289

pISSN:

2757-8399

Sufism

Dervish

Ascetic

Reliance on God

Beggar.Tasavvuf

Derviş

Fakir

Tevekkül

Dilenci.

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Ömer Tay

Yayıncı: Afyon Kocatepe University

Ana Başlıklar: Tasavvuf

Dergi: Kocatepe İslami İlimler Dergisi Vol.8 Issue 1, pp.112-125

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 6/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001350289

pISSN: 2757-8399

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Ömer Tay

Yayıncı:

Afyon Kocatepe University

Ana Başlıklar:

Tasavvuf

Dergi:

Kocatepe İslami İlimler Dergisi Vol.8 Issue 1, pp.112-125

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001350289

pISSN:

2757-8399