Comparison of zuhd in sufi thought and minimalism in modern thought

This thesis focuses on the human relationship to the matter by comparing Zāhid as a Sufi method and the minimalist way of life. The relationship between zāhid as a simple way of life and minimalism has been established on the assumption that they have some similarities, and it has been discussed in terms of the representation of tradition and modernity. In this context, the main purpose of the research is to compare zuhd and minimalism as two simple models of life that can be said to reflect the relationship between God, man, and matter in terms of goal, process, and result. Our study is based on the traditional and modern distinction. In this distinction, zuhd is considered as a representative of traditional thought and minimalist lifestyle is considered as a form of modern Western culture. Reducing worldly desires and possessions and maintaining a certain level of worldly interest and love is accepted as a stage of seyr-ü sulûk. This stage, which is expressed as zuhd, is at the centre of the study. Another aspect of the study is the minimalist lifestyle, which advocates the elimination of excesses and the concentration on the essential things in life. In this way, life becomes more meaningful and mental health develops positively. Although zuhd and minimalism seem to have a similarity in that they recommend a simple life, these two understandings differ on issues such as the existence and unity of God, faith and worship. In fact, this situation is directly related to the difference in the nature of traditional and modern thought explained in the first chapter. This is because the Islamic tradition and the Sufi tradition, as a sub-interpretation of it, have a central difference in their perception of man and the modern humanist world's perception of man, which is at the origin of the minimalist way of life. This difference causes all thinking, interpreting and perceiving to be directed in different directions. Therefore, the difference in the human perception of the two lifestyles is striking both at the starting and end points.