İmam Mâtürîdî’nin Değerler Dünyasında Zühd ve Tasavvuf
Zuhd and Sufism in Value System of Imam Māturīdī

Summary/Abstract: Purpose: Abū Manṣūr al-Māturīdī, a multifaceted figure and scholar, made significant contributions to Islamic thought with his diverse thoughts and perspectives. The ideas of the aforementioned scholar are valuable and important today, as they were in the past, for two main reasons. Firstly, his accurate recognition and understanding, of the issues at hand are to be commended. Secondly, his more effective presentation to a wider audience, has allowed his ideas to be disseminated further afield. Finally, his work has been instrumental in overcoming the problems of our century and opposing ideas and interpretations that undermine the unity and integrity of the Islamic world. In this context, it can be posited that Imam al-Māturīdī's conception of asceticism (zuhd) and Sufism, founded upon on religious and moral wisdom, possess. the capacity to proffer a resolution to the predicament of meaninglessness and the contemporary worldview. Therefore, based on the need for a more comprehensive examination of his thoughts and views, this article aims to highlight the importance, originality, distinctiveness, and value of his understanding and thoughts on these topics by focusing on the place of asceticism and Sufism in his world of values. Method: The subject will be addressed through the technique of document analysis within the framework of a qualitative research approach, centered on the views of Imam Māturīdī. The data examined within this methodological framework will be evaluated from a perspective oriented towards understanding, questioning, and interpretation, thereby aiming to develop a deep and comprehensive grasp of the topic. Findings: An examination of Imam al-Māturīdī’s life reveals that he adopted zuhd (asceticism) and taqwā (piety) as a way of life. In this respect, while it is possible to describe him as an ascetic (zāhid), it is difficult to classify him as a Sufi in the classical sense. In his works, al-Māturīdī considers both poverty (faqr) and wealth (ghināʾ), which are closely related to zuhd, as means of divine testing. He maintains that neither possesses absolute superiority over the other. Moreover, he perceives material possessions not as objectives in themselves but rather a higher purpose (li-ghayrihī) in the pursuit of ultimate happiness in the Hereafter. Conclusion: Al-Māturīdī’s writings contain numerous concepts and discussions related to zuhd, taqwā, and Sufism. It is the contention of the present study that these concepts are both original and significant, and that the subject under examination should be evaluated accordingly. Indeed, in his treatment of zuhd, al-Māturīdī puts forward distinctive perspectives that differ in certain respects from those of other scholars. Moreover, the author censures those who adopt contrived and affectation-ridden attitudes toward zuhd, namely individuals who present themselves as ascetics or Sufis despite demonstrating an absence of authentic ascetic or spiritual dedication. In comparison with other scholars who have addressed this topic, it is evident that Imām al-Māturīdī offers many original and distinctive insights on zuhd and Sufism from which one can benefit and learn.

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