This article examines the poetry of Ken‘ān Rifā‘ī (1867-1950), a late Ottoman sufi bureaucrat, poet, and
musician. It explores Rifā‘ī’s contributions to Turkish Sufi poetry, focusing on his role as a bridge between
the Ottoman Sufi tradition and the intellectual world of the late Ottoman period. In his work, İlâhiyât-ı
Ken‘ân, Rifā‘ī reinterprets traditional Sufi themes such as divine love, dervishhood, and the unity of being
during the socio-political transformations of the Tanzimat and Constitutional eras, developing a voice,
unique to his time. His poetry skillfully combines Sufi metaphysical concepts with contemporary issues
like homeland, freedom, and progress, offering meaningful responses to changing social realities while
preserving the spiritual essence of Ottoman Sufi thought. This study conducts a detailed textual analysis
of İlâhiyât-ı Ken‘ân, positioning Rifā‘ī’s works within their historical and socio-political contexts and
highlighting his ability to engage tradition while addressing the needs of his era. Rifā‘ī emerges not only
as a guardian of Sufi ideals but also as a significant cultural figure, adapting and integrating these ideals
into the contemporary realities of his time.