‎An analysis of entries on spiritual states (Ahwâl) in al-Thanawi's Kashshaf ‎Istilahat al-Funun wal Ulum

In the second half of the seventeenth century a period characterized by intense ‎scholarly activity, authorship, and commentary al-Tahânavî compiled a ‎comprehensive encyclopedia of sciences. In this encyclopedic work titled ‎Kashshâf Istılâhât al-Funûn wa'l-'Ulûm, he addressed studies regarding ‎medicine, physical sciences, chemistry, astrology, astronomy, mathematics, ‎religious sciences, literary sciences, and other disciplines through various layers ‎and provided original definitions. It can be stated that this work has made a ‎significant contribution to the scholarly world with is original and ‎comprehensive nature. Furthermore, this encyclopedic work is deemed worthy ‎of examination and serves as the primary source fort his study within the ‎context of the specific subject matter. It is observed that al-Tahânevî dedicated ‎a substantial section to Sufistic concepts in Kashshâf Istilâhât al-Funûn wa'l-‎‎'Ulûm, including many of the fundamental concepts of Sufi terminology. ‎Concepts such as the science of Sufism, the nafs (self/soul), and its ‎characteristics are among these. One of the conceptual groups emphasized by ‎al-Tahânevî consist of entries related to spiritual states (hâl) and stations ‎‎(makâm). Thus, this study aims to comparatively examine the concepts ‎regarding spiritual states in the science of Sufism within al-Tahânevî's ‎approach. For this purpose, the way Sufis expressed, distinguished, and ‎established criteria for the concepts of state (hâl) and station (maqâm) during ‎the period of conceptual systematization is addressed; furthermore, the extent ‎to which al-Tahânewî adhered to these criteria and his encyclopedic work are ‎analyzed. At the conclusion of the study, it was determined that these concepts ‎survived until the seventeen century without loss of meaning, and even if they ‎underwent semantic expansion, they did not lose their essential nature. ‎However, al-Tahânewî did not explain these concepts in his work by providing ‎the criteria established by the Sufis; this resulted in semantic shifts in the ‎concepts and led to the confusion of spiritual states (hâl) with stations ‎‎(maqâm).‎ Keywords : Sufism, al-Tahânewî Kashshâf, Hâl (State), Maqâm (Station), Sufi.‎