The traces of Ahmad Yassawi in Turkistanian religious and enlightenment literature at the end of 19th and the beginning of the 20th century

Abstract

In the history of the Turkish-Islamic world, on the one hand, the persecution of imperialism, and on the other hand, the classical and new traditions of literature continued in Turkistan from the early 19th century to the early 20th century. Although it was not very productive compared to the old 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 was known as the founder of the religious-mystical school named as Hikmat (wisdom) in the literature of Turkestan, as well as the founder of the first Turkic sect, and Yassawian teachings have been practicing 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 Yassawi followers such as Sulayman Hakim Ata, Kul Ubaydi, Kul Umuri, Nimatullah, Miskin Kasım, and Halis developed the tradition of Hikmat with their poetry. On the other hand, Sufi Muhammad Danishmand, Husameddin Signaki, Mevlana Koylaki, Hoja İshak Ata, Ubeydi, Hudaydad Veli, Hazini, Alim Sheikh, Muhammad Husayin Buhari, Zinde Ali, Molla Hudaydad, and many sufi writers who lived in different times and places, created the literature of Yassawian teachings with their literary and mystical works. When we take a look at religious-marvelous literature in the 19th century, we can see dozens of vise poets such as Hudaydad, Nizami-Hokandi, Hazini-Hokandi, and Kul Nadiri, who continue this tradition and inspired by Yassawi’s poems. In the article, the life and works of ingenious poets such as Azim Hoja Eshan, Majzub Nemengani, and Molla Yoldash Hilwati, who are influenced by Hoja Ahmad Yassawi’s ideas and opinions, will be discussed with a perspective of period and literature.