In this article, the concept of asceticism (zuhd) in the early Sufi classics will be studied. The concept of zuhd (asceticism) means to abandon and turn away in the dictionary. The concept of zuhd is used in Sufi literature to turn away from the world and worldly desires. It is suggested that the life of Islamic asceticism has been influenced by the mystical teachings of other religions. The concept of zuhd has been criticized in various contexts as one of the reasons behind the backwardness of Islamic societies. However, the Qur’an and the Sunnah recommends the asceticism. The life of the Prophet is full of examples of zuhd, and there are many hadīths on the subject. As a result of the compilation of the hadīths on this subject, a kind of work called Kitāb al-Zuhd has emerged. In these works, the concept of zuhd appears as the ultimate goal of spiritual life. Afterwards, the Sufi writers included the concept of zuhd in the first works in the field of Sufism. In this context, it is necessary to reveal the basis of the understanding of zuhd in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Likewise, it is important to study zuhd schools and zuhd sections in Sufi classics. This study, which will examine the concept of zuhd in the early Sufi classics, is important in terms of contributing to the understanding of the function of zuhd in the Sufi life.