Enlightenment, humanism, and Sufi thought in the works of Makhtumkuli Firaghi

Abstract

One of the prominent representatives of the Turkic literary milieu of the 18th century was Makhtumkuli Fragi, who emerged through his works as a thinker and poet who deeply explored the issues of the people, homeland, science and enlightenment, morality, and faith. His poetic heritage places particular emphasis on ideas that encourage people to pursue goodness, seek knowledge, and value national unity, peace, and stability in the homeland. In this respect, Makhtumkuli’s works are significant not only from an artistic perspective but also for their educational and moral value.

The formation of the poet’s worldview was greatly influenced by his family environment, religious and scholarly education, as well as his life experiences associated with the major intellectual and cultural centers of Central Asia. In particular, his father, Döwletmämmet Azady, who was also a poet and an enlightened intellectual, played an important role in shaping Makhtumkuli’s literary and aesthetic views.