The Role of Language and Literature in the Development of Islamic Culture and Civilization: A General Overview of Turkish Literature

Abstract

Culture and civilization are concepts that form the essence of social life. While culture enables the individual's inner maturation, civilization shapes the individual's external development, thus enabling the individual to acquire an identity. Islamic culture and civilization, passed down from generation to generation through oral and written traditions, has formed the essence of both societies and individuals. With the Turks' acceptance of Islam, words such as God, prophet, and afterlife began to appear in literary narratives, and Turkish-Islamic culture and civilization began to take shape. Yusuf Has Hacib's Kutadgu Bilig, Mahmud al-Kashgari's Divanü Lügat'it-Türk, Edip Ahmet Yükneki's Atabetü'l Hakayık, and Ahmet Yesevi's Divan-ı Hikmet are among the first Turkish works written around Islamic thought. The main characteristic of these fundamental books, referred to as the first Islamic works, is that they emerged from the merging of Islamic thought with the Turkish language and culture. Furthermore, the fact that these works contain religious and moral elements, are written in a didactic style, and are transitional works allows for a perspective on Islamic culture and civilization through language and identity. The foundation of Islamic culture and civilization lies in the Quran and the hadiths. The fact that the Quran was revealed to be read, understood, and lived by highlights the importance of language and literature. Within Turkish literature, many poets and writers have become carriers of culture and civilization by incorporating discourses that will carry the Islamic faith into future generations. Some of these poets include Yunus Emre, Mevlana, Fuzuli, Baki, Seyh Galib, Mehmet Akif Ersoy, Necip Fazıl Kısakürek, and Sezai Karakoç. These poets have spoken of God, the Prophet Muhammad, the Quran, and the hadiths in their poems, presenting Islamic culture and civilization within the framework of Islamic discourse and literary works. This study aims to reveal the role of language and literature in the development and shaping of Islamic culture and civilization, based on the thoughts of these poets.