Spiritual Features of Traveling in Sufism and the Importance of Traveling in Khoja Ahmed Yasawi

This article indicates the place of the practice of «journey» in Sufism. The peculiarity of travel in Sufism is highlighted, which lies in the fact that the traveler’s attention is focused not only on the object of visit, but also focuses on the relevance of the process of overcoming the path itself to this object. Metaphorical (internal) and realistic (external) types of travel are distinguished. The inner journey occurs during insight, dreaming, etc. The importance of external travel is taken into account, physical movement in a certain geographical space. It is carried out for the sake of seeking knowledge, taming the nafs and strengthening the internal order, visiting holy places. The source base for this study is the «hikmets» of the founder of Central Asian Sufism Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, which often describe the essence and meaning of travel, spiritual quest and dervish.