The Traces of Ahmad Yassawi in Turkistanian Religious and Enlightenment Literature at the End of 19th and the Beginning of the 20th Century

Abstract

AbstractIn the history of the Turkish-Islamic world, on the one hand, the persecution of imperialism, andon the other hand, the classical and new traditions of literature continued in Turkistan from theearly 19th century to the early 20th century. Although it was not very productive compared to theold times, religious-sufistic literature partially sustained, but it was experiencing its final processes.Because, “Pir-i Turkistan” (Saint Teacher of Turkestan) written by Hoja Ahmad Yassawi, who wasknown as the founder of the religious-mystical school named as Hikmat (wisdom) in the literatureof Turkestan, as well as the founder of the first Turkic sect, and Yassawian teachings have beenpracticing for centuries in the social and spiritual life of Central Asian Turks. As a result of this effect,the ideas and views of Ahmad Yassawi spread in the Turkic world. As a matter of fact, many Yassawifollowers such as Sulayman Hakim Ata, Kul Ubaydi, Kul Umuri, Nimatullah, Miskin Kasim, andHalis developed the tradition of Hikmat with their poetry. On the other hand, Sufi MuhammadDanishmand, Husameddin Signaki, Mevlana Koylaki, Hoja Ishak Ata, Ubeydi, Hudaydad Veli,Hazini, Alim Sheikh, Muhammad Husayin Buhari, Zinde Ali, Molla Hudaydad, and many sufiwriters who lived in different times and places, created the literature of Yassawian teachings withtheir literary and mystical works. When we take a look at religious-marvelous literature in the 19thcentury, we can see dozens of vise poets such as Hudaydad, Nizami-Hokandi, Hazini-Hokandi, andKul Nadiri, who continue this tradition and inspired by Yassawi’s poems. In the article, the lifeand works of ingenious poets such as Azim Hoja Eshan, Majzub Nemengani, and Molla YoldashHilwati, who are influenced by Hoja Ahmad Yassawi’s ideas and opinions, will be discussed with aperspective of period and literature.Keywords: Azim Hoja, Majzub,