Abstract EN:

This thesis aims at understanding the writings of a 16th century Turkish author named Sofyali Bâlî Efendî who belonged both to the Khalwatîe brotherhood and the Ibn ‘Arabî school, and to analyse these in order to discern the mystical aspects of his thinking. Three major parts form the thesis: the historical one, the doctrinal one and the appendix. The historical part: consists in studying the social and temporal context, the nature of the brotherhood, and the author’s life, which will lead to a better understanding of the doctrinal part. The doctrinal part: consists in studying the mystical and theological thinking of the author in order to place his ideas into the history of Sufism. Three aspects have been covered in the writing of this part: the author’s theoretical Sufism, his practical Sufism and his theological conceptions. Two major subjects relating to the author’s theoretical Sufism have been treated: God and the Perfect Man. The part relating to the author’s practical Sufism has been covered by studying the seven stages which presents the Sufi evolution according to the Khalwatî system. A few elements of practical Sufism have been approached through which a debate on the elements of Sufi psychology can be opened. The theological part of the thesis emerges from a reflection on his ideas pertaining to Moslem theology subjects. The author fundamentally admits Ibn ‘Arabî’s conception regarding the realization of man’s destiny; the divine law of destiny solely results from the demands of man’s essence, because it is his eternal specimen, ‘ayn thâbita, which guides him. Appendix: The three treatises allotted to the author have been studied in the appendix. The contents of these three treatises have been summed up in a quest to identify the true authors. The identity of the author of the third treatise has been identified. Unfortunately it hasn’t been possible to identify the authors of the two other treatises. Bâlî Efendî remains a possible author for these two works.