Bibliometric analysis of academic articles related to sufism in TR Index (2005-2022)

Despite the fewer number of academic studies in the field of Sufism compared to other theological faculties' main branches, interest in Sufism studies is on the rise. Its abstract nature in comparison to other disciplines and the fact that the sources of information on Sufism and tariqats are mainly based on oral tradition make the study of this field challenging. On the other hand, many studies have been conducted not only in the field of Sufism but also in other theological sciences and disciplines such as literature, sociology, and philosophy regarding the history of Sufism and the lives and works of Sufis. This study aims to bibliometrically analyze articles written in the field of Sufism indexed by TR Dizin. In doing so, the subjects of the articles, research methods used, references, and the works cited in these references are revealed. The citation numbers of the articles will also be reviewed, revealing the contributions of academic articles to the latest developments in the field of Sufism studies. Furthermore, by classifying the topics, the most studied subject headings will be unveiled, providing insights for topic and method selection in future studies. As of October 2022, the scope is limited to articles in TR Dizin that contain the word "Sufism" in their title, abstract, author institutions, journal names, or keywords. In this context, 1128 research articles and reviews that met the search criteria were included. It is observed that 10.64% (n=120) of the Sufism-related articles included in the study were published in the Turkish Studies (Electronic) journal, and 89.01% have a single author. When the institutions of the articles were examined, it was found that Sufism-related articles came from 237 different institutions; 3.72% (n=42) were from Atatürk University, 3.28% (n=37) from Marmara University, 2.66% (n=30) from Ankara University, and 2.66% (n=30) were published by authors from Necmettin Erbakan University When examining the main science branches of the authors, it's seen that 29.11% are from Sufism, 8.71% from Turkish Language Literature, 6.63% from Basic Islamic Sciences, and 5.74% from Old Turkish Literature. The fact that articles related to Sufism originate from various main science branches demonstrates that Sufism is a multifaceted field and establishes profound relationships with different disciplines. Seeing that Sufism-themed articles also originate from diverse and rarely encountered main science branches indicates that Sufism is not just a religious teaching but influences a broad cultural and academic spectrum. This diversity emphasizes the richness of relationships Sufism establishes with different disciplines and underscores the universal dimension of this teaching.