Each science has its own unique terminology, and these terms constitute its fundamental conceptual framework and tools of analysis. These words, called "concept," "term," or "terminology," were developed to make the profound issues of the sciences more systematic and understandable. The science of Sufism, also known as the "science of state," has its own unique language and terminology, particularly for expressing spiritual and spiritual experiences. For this reason, from the earliest times, Sufis have placed particular emphasis on the concepts of "state" and "maqam," exploring these topics in detail both in general Sufi works and in their individual works. The subject of this study is the verification and analysis of the work "al-Riâya" by Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ali al-Busti (d. 584/1188), who lived in the sixth century AH. This work systematically addresses the concepts of "hal" (state) and "maqam," fundamental issues in Sufism, and explores the spiritual stages of a traveler's journey. The first section of the study examines the author's historical and cultural context, his life, his scholarly personality, his teachers, and his students. The second section details the existing manuscripts of the work, its content, the sources used, and the methods of verification. With the verification text presented in the final section, al-Ri'ya has been retrieved from the manuscripts where it had remained hidden for centuries, brought to academic research, and made available for the benefit of the scholarly world.
Keywords:Abu Abdullah al-Busti, Sufism, Maqam, State, al-Riaya
The Careful Counsel for Disciples on Attaining Noble Morals
Each field of knowledge possesses its own unique terminology, with terms serving as the fundamental conceptual tools and analytical instruments of that discipline. These terms, referred to as “concepts,” “technical terms,” or “istilah”, are developed to articulate complex theoretical matters in a more systematic and comprehensible manner. Sufi scholarship, often described as the “science of spiritual states” (ʿilm al-aḥwāl), employs a distinctive language to express spiritual and psychological experiences. Ultimately, from the early periods of Islamic spirituality, Sufi masters have placed significant emphasis on the notions of ḥāl (spiritual states) and maqām (spiritual stations), addressing these concepts extensively in both general works on Sufism and specialized treatises dedicated exclusively to the subject. The present study focuses on er-Riʿāya, a classical Sufi text authored by Abū ʿAbdullāh Muḥammad b. ʿAlī al-Bustī (b. 584/1188). This work offers a systematic exposition of “ḥāl” and “maqām”, central themes in Sufi spirituality, outlining the stages of the spiritual path (sulūk) and the transformative journey of the sālik (spiritual traveler). The first chapter of this study explores the historical and cultural context in which al-Bustī lived, along with an examination of his life, scholarly contributions, teachers, and disciples. The second chapter provides a detailed analysis of the manuscript tradition of er- Riʿāya, its structure, content, sources, and the methodological principles adopted in the critical edition. Finally, the concluding section presents a thoroughly reviewed and critically edited version of er-Riʿāya, rescuing the text from centuries of obscurity and making it accessible for contemporary academic research and the scholarly community.
Keywords:Abu Abdullah al-Busti, Sufism, Maqam Stations, Hal Spiritual State, er-Riʿāya
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