Qabḍ and Basṭ in the Sūfī exegesis

Some words in the Qurʾān entered the Ṣūfī literature with the formation of Islamic Ṣūfī thought. The related words have partially or completely moved away from their contexts and acquired new meanings. When the words qabḍ and basṭ are compared with their usage in the Qurʾān and the Ṣūfī literature, it is seen that they have undergone some changes in meaning. The main purpose of this research is to determine the semantic stages of these words. In this thesis, by using textual analysis method, early Qurʾānic dictionaries, classical Arabic dictionaries, contemporary Arabic dictionaries, classical tafsirs, commentaries and Ṣūfī literature will be examined comparatively. It is known that the words qabḍ and basṭ, which originally expressed the material narrowness and width, have changed their meaning over time and have come to express spiritual narrowing and relaxation. As a result of the research, it was concluded that the meanings of the words qabḍ and basṭ in classical tafsirs sometimes overlap and sometimes diverge with the meanings used in Ṣūfī literature. In the thesis, it was determined that the words qabḍ and basṭ can be attributed to the Qurʾān based on these overlapping interpretations. On the other hand, there are also interpretations that are not found in classical Arabic dictionaries and tafsīr literature, and which can only be obtained through experiential and intuitive knowledge due to the nature of the Ṣūfī discipline.