The Sufi and Ontological Interpretation of Istiādha in al-Nawādir al-Uṣūl of al-Ḥakīm al-Tirmidhī
Abstract
Istiādha, which denotes seeking refuge in Allah from all forms of evil, occupies an important place in the Qurʾān and the Sunnah. While it is generally understood as a supplication for protection against visible and invisible harms, early Sufi thinkers often approached it as a spiritual act closely related to the purification of the heart and the deepening of one’s relationship with God. Among the scholars who developed a distinctive interpretation of istiādha, al-Ḥakīm al-Tirmidhī (d. 320/932) holds a significant position. In his al-Nawādir al-Uṣūl, he interprets prophetic supplications of refuge not merely as formulas of protection but as expressions of profound spiritual and ontological realities.
This article examines al-Tirmidhī’s understanding of istiādha within the framework of his Sufi and ontological thought. Employing qualitative textual analysis, the study investigates the traditions concerning istiādha in al-Nawādir al-Uṣūl and analyzes al-Tirmidhī’s explanations in relation to major Sufi concepts such as spiritual awakening (yaqaẓa), verification (taḥqīq), certainty (yaqīn), trust in God (tawakkul), divine light (nūr), and the struggle against satanic whisperings (waswasa). The article argues that al-Tirmidhī transforms istiādha from a simple protective prayer into a comprehensive spiritual orientation that guides the believer toward divine knowledge and the realization of tawḥīd.
A central aspect of al-Tirmidhī’s interpretation is his explanation of the phrase “the perfect words of Allah” (kalimāt Allāh al-tāmmāt). According to him, these words ultimately refer to the divine creative command “kun” (“Be”), through which all existence comes into being. Consequently, seeking refuge in the perfect words of Allah signifies more than protection from harm; it represents turning toward the divine power that governs and sustains the entire cosmos. In this sense, istiādha becomes an act of recognizing the absolute dependence of creation upon God and the inability of created causes to act independently of His will.
The study further demonstrates that al-Tirmidhī links the efficacy of istiādha to the spiritual state of the believer. Concepts such as yaqaẓa, taḥqīq, and yaqīn describe successive stages through which the heart becomes increasingly aware of divine reality. For al-Tirmidhī, the true benefit of istiādha is realized when these words are uttered with conscious awareness and inner certainty rather than as a mere verbal formula. Likewise, his interpretation of tawakkul emphasizes reliance upon God while recognizing that all apparent causes remain subject to divine decree.
Another important dimension of al-Tirmidhī’s thought is his distinction between outward and inward forms of refuge. Seeking refuge through the divine words is generally associated with external dangers, whereas direct refuge in Allah concerns inward threats such as the ego, satanic whisperings, heedlessness, and spiritual darkness. His interpretations of Sūrat al-Falaq and Sūrat al-Nās illustrate this perspective by presenting envy, magic, sin, and waswasa as manifestations of spiritual darkness that can only be overcome through divine light.
In conclusion, al-Tirmidhī’s treatment of istiādha reveals a highly original synthesis of hadith interpretation, Sufi psychology, and ontological reflection. His approach demonstrates that seeking refuge in Allah is not merely a response to fear or danger but a transformative spiritual process through which the believer attains inner certainty, divine protection, and a deeper realization of tawḥīd.
Keywords
Hakîm et-Tirmizî’nin Nevâdiru’l-Usûl’ünde İstiâzenin Tasavvufî ve Ontolojik Yorumu
Abstract
İstiâze, İslâmî gelenekte Allah’a sığınma ve kötülüklerden korunma talebini ifade eden temel kavramlardan biridir. Hakîm et-Tirmizî, Nevâdiru’l-usûl adlı eserinde bu kavramı hadisler ekseninde ele almakla birlikte ona tasavvufî ve ontolojik bir derinlik kazandırır. Bu makale, onun istiâzeye dair rivayetleri nasıl yorumladığını ve bu yorumlarda hangi tasavvufî kavramların öne çıktığını incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Hakîm et-Tirmizî’ye göre kulun “Allah’ın noksansız kelimelerine sığınırım” ifadesiyle istiâzede bulunması, kötülüklerden korunma talebini aşarak bütün varlığı yöneten ilâhî kudrete yönelmeyi ifade eder. Zira o, “Allah’ın kelimeleri”ni yaratıcı emir olan “kün” kelimesiyle ilişkilendirir. Ona göre yakaza, tahkîk ve yakîn gibi tasavvufî manalar istiâzede mevcut olup bu hâller, sığınma sözünün kalpte derinleşmesini sağlar. İstiâze aynı zamanda “Hasbiyallâh/Allah bana yeter” ifadesinde olduğu gibi tevekkül anlamı taşır; kulun güvenini, teslimiyetini ve Allah’a dayanma bilincini görünür kılar. Ayrıca Hakîm et-Tirmizî’nin istiâze yorumunda dış dünyaya ait tehlikeler karşısında Allah’ın kelimeleriyle istiâze öne çıkar; zira zâhirî hâdiseler “kün” emrinin tecellisiyle gerçekleşir. Vesvese, nefis, şeytan ve gaflet gibi kalbi kuşatan bâtınî tehlikelerde ise doğrudan Allah’a sığınmak gerekir. Felak ve Nâs sûrelerine getirdiği yorumlar da istiâzenin hem ilâhî himaye talebi hem de kalbin korunması, arındırılması ve tevhid merkezinde toparlanması anlamı taşıdığını gösterir.
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