The life, works and sufi views of Sheikh Sayyid Muhammad Maʿrūf

This study provides an over view of the life, works and Sufi views of Sayyid Muhammad Maʿrūf Yildirim, one of the Sufis educated by Saʿīd Saydaal-Jazarī, who was born and lived in Batman. In this thesis, the views of Maʿrūf, who belongs to the Khālidiyya branch of the Naqshbandiyya sect, on Sufism is discussed by analysing his works entitled Irshād al-mustarshidīn, Tanbih an-naʿiminand Tariq al-saada. The subjects and concepts he addressed in his works were compared with those in Sufi sources. It was found that he prepared the concepts he addressed in Irshād al-mustarshidīn by translating ʿAbd al-Qushayrī's work al-Risāla al-Qushayrīyya. The present study evaluated the information about the life of Muhammad Maʿrūf obtained through his family and disciples. Following the information about the purpose, method and evaluation of the sources in the introduction, the first section of the thesis introduces information about Muhammad Maʿrūf's birth, educational/social life, scientific and literary personality, his entry into the tariqa and his works. Entitled Sheikh Maʿrūf's Sufi Views, the second section discusses his interpretations of some verses and hadīths, his approach to the concepts related with hāl and maqām, as well as issues such as tawba, taqwā, mujāhada, dhikr, which are naturally involved in Sufi life. The aim of this study is to get familiar with Muhammad Maʿrūf's life and Sufi thought sand to introduce them to others. Keywords: Sufism, Sayyid Maʿrūf, Naqshbandiyya, Khālidiyya, Batman.