The hadith-based basis for the fundamental sûfî teachings in the works of Seyyid Abdülhakîm Arvasi

ABSTRACT After the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) passing, the teachings of Islam became subjects of various branches of knowledge. Among these, moral and spiritual teachings were studied within the disciplines of Hadith and Sûfîsm. The science of Sûfîsm was shaped within the framework of the Qur'an and the Sunnah. Although Sûfî scholars developed their own methods of reasoning, the foundations of Sûfî teachings were ultimately grounded in the Qur'an and authentic prophetic traditions. Seyyid Abdülhakîm Arvâsî was born in 1860 in Başkale, Van. He received his initial education from his father and later studied religious and rational sciences under various scholars. He was authorized in multiple Sûfî orders and affiliated with the Khalidiyya branch of the Naqshbandiyya. Arvâsî lived during the final years of the Ottoman Empire and the early Republican period. He established a madrasa and library in Başkale, contributing to religious education and resisting the spread of Shi'ism in the region. Following the Russian occupation, he migrated to Mosul, then lived briefly in Adana and Eskişehir, eventually settling in Istanbul. In Istanbul, he served as the sheikh of the Kaşgarî Dervish Lodge. After the closure of dervish lodges, he continued teaching at Beyoğlu Ağa and Beyazıt Mosques. During this time, he made significant scholarly contributions in eastern Anatolia. Living through a period of major transformation and tension in the early Republic, Arvâsî's influence continued through his writings in Sûfîsm and other disciplines, as well as through the intellectuals he inspired. This study focuses on evaluating the authenticity of hadiths cited in his major work er-Riyât't-Tasawwufiyya, particularly in relation to fifteen key Sûfî concepts. While Arvâsî refers to various hadiths in this and other works (such as his treatises and letters), he often does so without citing sources or commenting on their authenticity. This reflects the general Sûfî approach to hadith, which may include transmitting hadiths without chains (isnats), narrating by meaning, and relying on spiritual insight or inspiration to assess their reliability. In this research, primary hadith sources as well as classical takhreej and etraf works were consulted. Contemporary academic studies in the field were also considered where relevant, aiming to establish the status of the hadiths and to shed light on the methodology Arvâsî employed in his Sûfî writings. During this time, he made significant scholarly contributions in eastern Anatolia. Living through a period of major transformation and tension in the early Republic, Arvâsî's influence continued through his writings in Sufism and other disciplines, as well as through the intellectuals he inspired. This study focuses on evaluating the authenticity of hadiths cited in his major work er-Riyât't-Tasawwufiyya, particularly in relation to fifteen key Sufi concepts. While Arvâsî refers to various hadiths in this and other works (such as his treatises and letters), he often does so without citing sources or commenting on their authenticity. This reflects the general Sufi approach to hadith, which may include transmitting hadiths without chains (isnads), narrating by meaning, and relying on spiritual insight or inspiration to assess their reliability. In this research, primary hadith sources as well as classical takhreej and etraf works were consulted. Contemporary academic studies in the field were also considered where relevant, aiming to establish the status of the hadiths and to shed light on the methodology Arvâsî employed in his Sufi writings.