Information Package / Course Catalogue
Contemporary Sufism Problems
Course Code: İL322
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 2
Prt.: 0
Credit: 2
Lab: 0
ECTS: 4
Objectives of the Course

The course titled “Contemporary Sufi Issues” aims to provide general information on the origin of Sufism, which is still relevant in every period and geography, as well as its value of knowledge, forms of action, the relationship between man and being, the essential nature of the Melametiyya, the issues on which Sufis made mistakes, the variety of orders, the characteristics of concepts such as rabita, karamat, saint, etc., the distinction between Sufism and community, and Sufi-political relations.

Course Content

The origin of Sufism, practical dimensions of Sufism, Sufi-existence relationship, historical process of Malamatiyya, its methods and principles, characteristics of concepts such as rabita, karamat, saint, guide etc., distinction between Sufism and community, Sufi-politics relations.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes
1.To have general knowledge about the basic issues of Sufism;
2.To consider the fundamental issues of Sufism in terms of reliable primary sources;
3.To be able to follow the historical process correctly by getting to the root of the basic issues.
4.To have the authority to eliminate the effect of the deliberate negative perception that is tried to be created through Sufism on the individual and society.
5.To gain skills on where and how to research the accuracy of the information and claims put forward regarding Sufism.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Hasan Kamil Yılmaz, Issues of Sufism (Istanbul: Erkam Publications, 1997)
2.The Handbook of Sufism, texts by Dilaver Gürer, Himmet Konur, Kadir Özköse, Ramazan Muslu, Reşat Öngören, Ahmed Cahid Haksever, Ali Bolat, Halil İbrahim Şimşek, Mustafa Çakmaklıoğlu, Osman Nuri Küçük, Rıfat Okudan, ed. Kadir Özköse (Ankara: Grafiker Publications, 2012)
3.Alexander Knysh, History of Sufism, trans. İhsan Durdu (Istanbul: Ufuk Publications, 2011)
4.Erol Güngör, Issues of Islamic Sufism (Istanbul: Ötüken Neşriyat, 1984)
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Origin of Sufism (Hz. Prophet (pbuh) and Her Connection with the First Three Generations / Companions, Tabi'un and Tabi'un)
Week 1 - Preparation Work
Preliminary Preparation for the Subject to be Covered in the Course: Reading
Week 2 - Theoretical
The Knowledge Value of Sufism (Origin and Explanation of Concepts such as Fiqh-i Zahir, Fiqh-i Batin, Truth, Marifat, Ledun Science etc.)
Week 2 - Preparation Work
Preliminary Reading and Literature Research Relevant to the Subject to be Covered in the Course (Book, Thesis, Article etc.)
Week 3 - Theoretical
Sufism and Forms of Action (Manners, Morality, Condition, Position and Permissions and Their Nature and Characteristics)
Week 3 - Preparation Work
Preliminary Reading and Literature Research Relevant to the Subject to be Covered in the Course (Book, Thesis, Article etc.)
Week 4 - Theoretical
Sufism and the Relationship of Being (Human-Allah, Human-Self, Human-Human and Human-World Relations)
Week 4 - Preparation Work
Preliminary Reading and Literature Research Relevant to the Subject to be Covered in the Course (Book, Thesis, Article etc.)
Week 5 - Theoretical
History of Melâmetîlik in Main Lines
Week 5 - Preparation Work
Preliminary Reading and Literature Research Relevant to the Subject to be Covered in the Course (Book, Thesis, Article etc.)
Week 6 - Theoretical
The Nature, Methods and Principles of Malametism According to the First Malametism Sources
Week 6 - Preparation Work
Preliminary Reading and Literature Research Relevant to the Subject to be Covered in the Course (Book, Thesis, Article etc.)
Week 7 - Theoretical
Mistakes of Those Who Possess Shatahat and Sufis
Week 7 - Preparation Work
Preliminary Reading and Literature Research Relevant to the Subject to be Covered in the Course (Book, Thesis, Article etc.)
Week 8 - Theoretical
Sufi Methods of Understanding and Making Rulings from the Holy Quran and Hadith
Week 8 - Preparation Work
Preliminary Reading and Literature Research Relevant to the Subject to be Covered in the Course (Book, Thesis, Article etc.)
Week 9 - Theoretical
Sufism is a Path to Unity and the Varieties of This Path (From Unity to Multiplicity, from Multiplicity to Unity): Tariqahs
Week 9 - Preparation Work
Preliminary Reading and Literature Research Relevant to the Subject to be Covered in the Course (Book, Thesis, Article etc.)
Week 10 - Theoretical
The Meaning and Characteristics of the Concepts of Sheikh, Murshid, Veli, Murid, Sufi, Melameti, Miracle, Rabita, Tawassul and Istimdat
Week 10 - Preparation Work
Preliminary Reading and Literature Research Relevant to the Subject to be Covered in the Course (Book, Thesis, Article etc.)
Week 11 - Theoretical
Sufism and Congregations in Türkiye from the 20th Century to the Present
Week 11 - Preparation Work
Preliminary Reading and Literature Research Relevant to the Subject to be Covered in the Course (Book, Thesis, Article etc.)
Week 12 - Theoretical
Sufism and Congregations in Türkiye from the 20th Century to the Present
Week 12 - Preparation Work
Preliminary Reading and Literature Research Relevant to the Subject to be Covered in the Course (Book, Thesis, Article etc.)
Week 13 - Theoretical
Sufi-Politics Relationship in the Historical Process
Week 13 - Preparation Work
Preliminary Reading and Literature Research Relevant to the Subject to be Covered in the Course (Book, Thesis, Article etc.)
Week 14 - Theoretical
General Evaluation
Week 14 - Preparation Work
General Consideration of the Topics Covered Throughout the Term
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Attending Lectures1%5
Verbal Examination1%5
Midterm Examination1%30
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory143270
Reading60318
Individual Work3026
Midterm Examination1415
Final Examination1415
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)104
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
PÇ-12
PÇ-13
PÇ-14
PÇ-15
PÇ-16
PÇ-17
PÇ-18
PÇ-19
PÇ-20
OÇ-1
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
OÇ-2
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
OÇ-3
4
OÇ-4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
OÇ-5
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026