The place of concepts of fana' and baqa' on sufi path in the texts of early period

Fana' and baqa' are one of the most important pair of concepts describing the method and aim of Tasawwuf. They also have a significant place in relating to the other sufi terms. In this context, our study is based on fana' and baqa' which are bearing the idea of tasawwuf within themselves. In this study entitled The Place of Concepts of Fana' and Baqa' on Sufi Path in the Texts of Early Period, the terms fana' and baqa' are analyzed conceptually. It is explained that fana' has various meanings and apart from that the sufi method is a whole arising from the processes of fana'. From a different perspective, the concepts describing the end of the sufi path are expressed with the terms fana' and baqa'. Fana' and baqa' are also explained in terms of their place in sufi literature. Afterwards it is analyzed why fana' and baqa' covered within states and stations in the sufi text are accepted as a state or a station. Within the discussions caused by these concepts, the views of the Sufis on this subject are also handled. In this study, we followed a comparative method. We conclude that fana' is a method applied in every step of sayr al-suluk and the aim is also expressed with this term. It is also concluded that Sufis who experienced the state of fana' and expressed it in different ways are approved in tasawwuf and that this concept set a precedent in producing new terms on the way of making a compromise with the other Islamic sciences. Key Terms: tasawwuf, zuhd, ascetism, fana', baqa', shath, ecstasy