Akademik Tarih ve Düşünce Dergisi

Abstract

One of the fundamental aspects of Sufism, particularly in the interpretation of the spiritual journey of a Sufi, concerns the sequential stages and conditions that a seeker and a saint must undergo to attain ultimate perfection and divine Truth. These stages must not only be experienced but also fully internalized. A comparable structure persists in contemporary folk traditions, commonly referred to as "dwelling" or "stage," though alternative terminologies such as "door" or "square" are also employed. The spiritual aspirant must engage in a rigorous struggle to ascend through these stages, fulfilling the requisite conditions of each before progressing further. This journey is not merely confined to the metaphysical realm; rather, it manifests as a transient state that momentarily illuminates the heart and soul before dissipating. Among Sufi traditions, seven key stations are widely recognized: repentance (tawba), piety (wara‘), asceticism (zuhd), poverty (faqr), patience (sabr), reliance on God (tawakkul), and contentment (rida). Unlike conventional classifications of Sufi stages, Jalal al-Din Rumi elucidates these stations—repentance, charity, asceticism, poverty, patience, reliance on God, and contentment—in his seminal work, Masnavī-i Ma‘navī. Subsequent Sufi traditions, particularly the Mawlawi order, have profoundly engaged with and institutionalized these spiritual concepts. Given their centrality in Rumi’s thought, this study seeks to examine these seven stations with a particular focus on their articulation in Masnavī-i Ma‘navī.