THE IMPACT OF AHMET YESEVI ON THE TURKISH LANGUAGE AND TURKICNESS

Abstract

Ahmet Yesevi was a prominent Sufi, thinker, and master of language in the
12th-century Turkic-Islamic world. One of his most significant contributions was the use of the
Turkic language as a medium for religion and spiritual knowledge. At a time when Arabic and
Persian dominated, his conscious choice to use Turkic made religious teachings more accessible
to the public and elevated the literary value of the language. Moreover, Yesevi’s teachings blended
Turkic traditions with Islamic ethics, fostering a strong sense of Turkic identity. This study aims
to examine Ahmet Yesevi’s influence on the Turkic language and identity within a historical and
cultural context.