Israiliyat in divan poetry

With the acceptance of Islam by the Turks, as of 11th century and 12th century significant changes has been observed in Turkish literary activity and in the beginning a literary movement denominated "Diwan literature", which developed under the influence of Arabic and especially Persian literature emerged. Since Diwan poetry is a literature based on Islam, the elements of other religions and cultures that have been incorporated into Islam, which is defined as Israiliyyat, have naturally had an impact on mentioned literature. Present study, which deals with Israiliyyat in Diwan poetry, composes of introduction, two chapters and conclusion. The first chapter of the study includes the information about the etymology of Israiliyyat and the meaning of the mentioned word throughout history. This is followed by a general information on the historical process and spread of Israiliyyat. In the second chapter the elements of Israiliyyat in Diwan poetry are discussed. This chapter consists of five parts. In the first part the Israiliyyat narratives identified in the context of angels are explained and exemplified with couplets. In the second part the elements used in divan poetry related to the prophets has been determined, and then the ones related to Israiliyyat included in the research. Afterwards, the traces of these elements in Diwan poetry are presented with sample couplets. In the third part, historical and legendary figures have been studied. The background of the personalities mentioned in Diwan poetry has been researched and their relations with the holy books examined. Historical and legendary figures in Diwan poetry have been the subject of the study by being limited to the names associated with Israilliyat. The traces of these people in Diwan poetry have been determined and exemplified with couplets. In the fourth chapter the elements of Isrâiliyat reflected in Diwan poetry about animals analyzed and exemplified with couplets. In the fifth chapter, general information is given about the etymology of Sufism, the reasons for its emergence, its formation and the effects of non-Islamic religions and cultures on Sufism.It has been determined that Sufi culture contains many foreign elements and the reflections of these elements in Diwan poetry are explained. In the study, by examine ninety works of Diwan literature covering the period between the 14th and 19th centuries, the couplets found to be related to Israiliyyat has been evaluated. Keywords: Diwan poetry, Israiliyyat, parables of prophets, Sufism