Fudayl b. 'Iyad's (d. 187/802) Life and his Sufi Approaches

Fudayl b. 'Iyad is regarded as one of the most important sufis of the first period, which comes just after the period of tabiin (generation come after the companion the prophet) from the point view of the history of sufism. His zuhd (asceticism) understanding and his thought of sufism influenced later Sufis. Fudayl, who was of Arabic descent, was born in Khurasan, acquired science in Kufah, and spent the last period of his life in Meccah, where he passed away. When considered from this point of view, it is seen that he collected characters, cultures and civilizations of different regions. His scientific identity is much stronger than his Sufi identity. Fudayl had a connection with both sects’ ？mams; He was the student of Abu Hanifa and he was one of the spiritual guides of ？mam Shafii. He arranged his spiritual life according to the guidance of the knowledge, based on the Qur'an and the Sunnah. His approach of sufism is based on the zuhd. Fudayl is not satisfied with the understanding of zuhd but he is also one of the first sufis who declare their first opinion on topics such as ingenuity (ma‘rifah), divine love (mahabbah) and contentment (r？dhah). Fudayl also came to the forefront with the struggle and the acting personality for the community reclamation. He was interested in the community and its problems and made efforts to management reform. His actions were based on the destruction of the bid'ahs (false religious innovations) and the dominancy of the conception of the ahl-al-sunnah and the true tasawwuf in the society