The Naqshbandi-Haqqaniyya are one of the most well known and researched tariqas in the West. Until May 2014 the leader of the tariqa was Shaykh Nazim Adil al-Qubrusi al-Haqqani (1922-1914) who somewhat unusually among modern Sunni Sufi shaykhs taught consistently that the world is in its last days and approaching a global apocalyptic change. It is these apocalyptic teachings, primarily articulated by Shaykh Nazim, that are the focus of this thesis. While an element of Shaykh Nazim’s teachings that has been noted by a number of scholars, there has been little in the way of comprehensive research on the apocalyptic teachings past the year 2000 or on how Shaykh Nazim’s apocalypse compares to those found either in wider Islamic thought or other religious traditions. By utilising sources produced until Shaykh Nazim’s death in 2014 this thesis thus aims to make a distinct contribution to the knowledge by identifying what characterises the apocalypticism of Shaykh Nazim and the Naqshbandi-Haqqaniyya, how this compares to other Muslim apocalypses, whether its form can be accounted for, and how murids in one branch of the tariqa interpret teachings in the post-millennial period. This thesis argues that it is important we come to a better understanding of Shaykh Nazim’s apocalypse not just to further our understanding the Naqshbandiyya, but to address an imbalance in contemporary apocalyptic studies on how Islamic apocalyptic belief is presented. The thesis presents a new phenomenological dimensional approach to apocalyptic belief which forms the structure of the investigation. It begins by outlining broad trends in Islamic apocalyptic thought in order to provide a comparative base for the rest of the work. This is followed by an examination of where Shaykh Nazim’s apocalypse converges and diverges from these broad trends. The following chapters seek to account for the distinctive form of Shaykh Nazim’s apocalypse by discussing firstly whether they might be presented to appeal to Westerners, whether they might be seen as a way of addressing modernity, and if they act as a theodicy. These chapters are then followed by a discussion on authorities used to legitimise the apocalyptic teachings and how they are interpreted by a small group of murids in the Glastonbury branch of the tariqa. This thesis concludes by arguing Shaykh Nazim’s apocalypse is distinctive in many respects, particularly in regards his absolute millenarian vision. Ultimately this millenarian vision is made necessary by a need to cleanse the world of satanic influence in a way not possible by reform. It also argues the apocalyptic teachings remained an important part of Shaykh Nazim’s teachings post the millennium and that there are a number of strategies employed by murids to make sense of living in the end of times. It argues future research should monitor changes in apocalyptic emphasis given the new leadership of the tariqa and wider attention be paid to apocalyptic belief in Islam in general.

La présente étude résulte d’une synthèse approfondie de plusieurs approches visant à cerner les différents sens et aspects de la retraite spirituelle (khalwa) dans l’Islam. Dans un premier temps, une étude historico-linguistique du terme et de ses définitions a été réalisée pour montrer la manière qui a permis de le comparer puis le différencier de ses synonymes ou pseudo-synonymes. Par la suite, une réflexion sur les origines et les tous débuts de la pratique spirituelle a fait l’objet de notre recherche, suivie d’une description des règles énoncées dans les manuels destinés aux murîd(s) qui dans l’ensemble, sont au nombre de vingt six. D’autre part, nous avons tenté d’énumérer les mérites de cette pratique à travers un recensement de ses utilités et de ses vertus. Par ailleurs, dans la deuxième partie de ce présent travail, une étude comparative entre les pratiques des anciens et celles de nos contemporains a été menée à travers une enquête au cœur de certaines voies mystiques, plus particulièrement, la cAlawiyya et la Naqshbandiyya. Par conséquent, les résultats apportés ont permis un éclairage ainsi qu’une meilleure connaissance sur le vécu actuel des mystiques, pratiquant la khalwa dans la région Nord-ouest de l’Algérie ainsi que dans d’autres pays occidentaux comme le Canada, les États-Unis, la Suisse et la France. / The present study was undertaken to deepen evaluate the different senses and aspects of the spiritual practice widely known as *Khalwa* within Islam. This was firstly investigated by an historical and a linguistic study of the term and its definitions. This approach allowed in particular, to understand how the term could be distinguished and differentiated by the synonyms and pseudo-synonyms. In the second part of this research, a serious thought on the origins and the beginning of the practice was undertaken, followed by a clear description of the rules as determined in different manuals which were addressed to murîd(s). Furthermore, we tried in this study to clarify and enumerate the merits of this spiritual practice through a census of its advantages and benefits. Interestingly, a comparative study between the old and current practices has contributed to enrich widely our research through several mystical ways, such as the cAlawiyya and Naqshbandiyya. In conclusion, our findings might allow a better understanding of the mystical ways applied in the practices of the *khalwa* not only in the Ouest-North of Algeria, but in others countries like Canada, United-States, Switherland and France.