A SUFI-PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS OF AZIZUDDIN NASAFI’S IDEAS ON KNOWLEDGE AND ITS ACQUISITION

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive mystical-philosophical analysis of the views on knowledge ('ilm) and its acquisition by Azizuddin Nasafi, a prominent 13th-century Central Asian Sufi thinker. Framing knowledge not merely as theoretical information but as a foundational metaphysical force defining human ontology and spiritual perfection, the study explores its roots in Islamic theology and Sufi epistemology. Analyzing Nasafi’s core treatises-Kitab al-Insan al-Kamil, Zubdat al-Haqaiq, Bayan ut-Tanzil, and Maqsad al-Aqsa-the paper examines the fundamental distinction between acquired rational knowledge ('ilm al-kasbi) and direct divine knowledge ('ilm al-ladunni). The author highlights Nasafi’s classification of rational, traditional, and mystical sciences, his validation of natural science as a path to divine wisdom, and the epistemological hierarchy of certainty ('Ilm al-Yaqin, 'Ayn al-Yaqin, and Haqq al-Yaqin). Furthermore, the study emphasizes the indispensable balance between knowledge and action ('ilm va 'amal), the role of spiritual mentorship (murshid and salik), and heart purification (tazkiya). Ultimately, Nasafi’s synthesis of reason and gnosis offers a timeless model for human development and intellectual-spiritual harmony.