Prof. Süleyman Derin is a scholar of Sufism whose work dwells in the subtle interior of Islamic thought, where theology meets the language of the heart. Born in Kütahya, Türkiye, he was formed within the scholarly tradition of Marmara University, where he completed his undergraduate and master’s studies in theology, before extending his intellectual journey to the University of Leeds.

His doctoral research—centred on the evolving paradigms of divine love from Rābiʿa al-ʿAdawiyya to Ibn al-Fāriḍ—set the tone for a career devoted to uncovering the inner dimensions of Islam. His scholarship moves between classical Sufi texts and contemporary inquiry, exploring not only metaphysical doctrines but also the psychological and transformative aspects of faith.

Now a full professor in the Department of Sufism at Marmara University, he teaches the history of Sufism, Sufi tafsīr, and the encounter between Islamic spirituality and modern intellectual currents. His writings illuminate the enduring relevance of Sufi concepts—love, purification, and knowledge of the self—as pathways toward ethical and spiritual refinement.

Through his teaching and research, Prof. Derin invites a deeper reflection: that beyond doctrine lies experience, and beyond knowledge lies transformation—where the study of Sufism becomes, ultimately, a journey inward.