The work Ravzatü's-Sâlikîn by Mehmed b. Mustafa Merzifonî (Analysis and text)

This thesis examines Ravzatü's-Sâlikîn, a significant work by Mehmed b. Mustafa Merzifonî(öl. ?-?), one of the prominent figures of the Ottoman Sufi tradition. The study addresses both the author and the content, method, and manuscript tradition of the work in detail. In addition, a critical edition of the text has been prepared and presented to the academic field. In the first chapter, Merzifonî's life and works are examined, with a special focus on his place within the Celvetiyye order and the broader context of Sufi developments preceding him. Alongside Ravzatü's-Sâlikîn, other works of the author, such as Bahrü'l-Hakâyık, Zübdetü't- Hâkayık, and Tuhfetü's-Sâlikîn, are introduced, and the position of Ravzatü'sSâlikîn among them is evaluated. The second chapter offers a detailed analysis of the method and content of Ravzatü'sSâlikîn. Key Sufi concepts such as the ontological levels of existence, the divine essence, names, attributes, and acts of God, as well as dhikr (remembrance of God) methods, the relationship between intellect, soul, spirit, and the inner secret (sirr), and the stages of the nafs (self) are thoroughly explored. The spiritual path (seyr u sulūk), the relationship between the murshid (spiritual guide) and the murīd (disciple), and the connection between dreams and spiritual experience are also analyzed. Additionally, the distinctions between outer and inner knowledge, as well as inspiration (ilhām) and thoughts (havātır), are discussed within the intellectual framework of the period. The third chapter introduces the manuscript copy of Ravzatü's-Sâlikîn, explains the method followed in the preparation of the edition, and presents the critical text. Particular attention has been paid to preserving the textual integrity while making it accessible to contemporary readers through explanatory annotations and linguistic clarity. This thesis aims to provide a systematic analysis and scholarly edition of a classical Sufi text written in Ottoman Turkish. It also seeks to highlight Merzifonî's original contributions to Ottoman Sufi literature, especially regarding concepts such as divine essence (zāt), unity (tawḥīd), the spiritual path (seyr u sulūk), poverty (faqr), and visionary experience (ru'yetullāh).