The Belief in the Concept of Existence in FUZÛLÎ Collection of Poetry

Abstract

This study examines how the poet Fuzuli, one of the most prominent figures of classical Turkish literature, approached the concept of (wahdat al-wujud) (Unity of Existence) in his divan. It also examines how it is presented at the poetic level. As it is considered one of the central notions in Sufi thought, the concept of Unity of Existence depends on the notion that existence is in fact one, and that diversity is nothing but representations of this unity. The universality of Fuzuli’s poetry reflects this philosophical existential approach not only within a theoretical framework, but also as a rich field with intense emotional and aesthetic experience.

Through an examination of different types of Fuzuli's poetry, the study focuses, especially in long and love poems, on how the poet imagined existence, love, human being, and God within the framework of the Unity of Existence. The results of the study indicate that Fuzuli does not deal with the concept of love as a mere human feeling but uses it as a basic means to reach absolute existence. Although the relationship between the lover and the beloved seems apparently a dual one, the poetic discourse shows that this duality disappears gradually to turn into a unity. This turning is considered one of the most remarkable manifestations of the concept of the Unity of Existence in poetry.

In brief, the essay reveals that Fuzuli builds his understanding of existence through symbols and metaphors. The poet exceeds the feeling of the Ego, the first-person pronoun "I", showing the mortality of human beings on the stage of existence and the real existence is not fulfilled without the existence of the Divine. In this context, the globe is considered a transit station of the journey of love whereas man becomes a mirror in which the Divine right is manifested. Fuzuli's style of writing is distinguished by representing the concept of Unity of existence not only in the direct educational discourse, but also in a poetic and aesthetic depth that is mixed with lyricism and philosophical dimension.

               One of the basic results that the study concluded is that Fuzuli deals with the concept of the Unity of existence not only as an individual Sufi experience, but also as universal truth that adds meaning to the existence of man. The poet aims at mixing the subjects of agony, suffering, and love within the framework of this concept to give the reader a deep recognition of the reality of existence and its relationship with the absolute. From this point of view, Fuzuli's divan is not only looked upon as a literary work, but also an aesthetic representation of the Sufi doctrine.