Abū Tālib Al-Makkī's approach of khawāṭir in terms of ethics and epistemology

This dissertation examines Abū Ṭālib al-Makkī's approach of khawāṭir in terms of ethics and epistemology. This study defends that because Sufis constantly talk about khawāṭir, they are defined as ahl al-khawāṭir by other thinkers. However, over time, khawāṭir has turned into a concept used by some thinkers to belittle the Sufis and criticize their sciences for being method less. First, this study claims that Abū Ṭālib al-Makkī constructed khawāṭir as an inclusive concept in order to eliminate this methodlessness. Secondly, the research defends that Makkī adopts a method called at-Tamyīz against khawāṭir comes to the heart constantly, which causes a change in one's morality and knowledge. Makkī carries khawāṭir to the centre of his Sufi thought. He wanted to find a solution to the confusion of concepts in the formation period of Sufism by gathering many concepts related to acquiring knowledge under khawāṭir. Moreover, Makkī shows the connection of the ḳalb, rūḥ, ʿaḳl and nafs with khawāṭir. At the same time, he explains how khawāṭir is separated from good and bad. having said that, he reveals what the epistemological value of khawāṭir is. Using text analysis, comparison and synthesis methods, this dissertation concludes that Makkī thinks that khawāṭir is the factor that makes Sufism a unique science, distinguishes it from other sciences and makes it superior to them. Finally, this study makes two recommendations to modern researchers. First, they should evaluate the concepts used by Sufis related to acquiring knowledge in the formative period of Sufism within the framework of "khawāṭir". Secondly, they should consider all the explanations of the Sufis about distinguishing the khawāṭir that comes to the heart, determining the khawāṭirs source, and determining whether it conforms to the Qur'an and the Sunnah, under the concept of at-Tamyīz.