The Turkish image in classical Arabic literature in the context of Jahiz's work Fezailul-Etrak

During the Abbasid period, when Turks began to assume significant roles in governance and the military, al-Jahız had the opportunity to engage with prominent Turkish elites. Based on his observations and transmitted reports, he authored Fezailul-Etrak, a work highlighting the physical and moral virtues of the Turks. As the first independent work in Arabic literature dedicated to the Turks, this treatise had a notable impact, particularly in court circles, and continued to influence subsequent periods. However, in modern times, the work has faced various criticisms from scholars such as Ahmad Amîn, focusing on its content, al-Jahız's intent in composing the text, and his methodological approach. In response to these critiques, researchers like Zekeriya Kitapçı have defended the work and sought to counter the objections raised against it. This study examines al-Jahız's life, his teachers, students, and his interactions with notable Turkish figures while analyzing his works, particularly Fezailul-Etrak, within the framework of classical Arabic literature's representation of the Turks. The study is structured into an introduction, two main chapters, and a conclusion. The introduction explores the origins of the Turks, their interactions with Arabs, and their process of conversion to Islam. The first chapter focuses on al-Jahız's biography and works, while the second chapter delves into Fezailul-Etrak, analyzing the depiction of Turks, criticisms directed at the work, and its influence on later periods. In this regard, the study offers an original contribution by assessing the impact of al-Jahız's work on subsequent scholars and the broader literary tradition. In this study, generative artificial intelligence was utilized within the framework permitted by the Turkish Council of Higher Education for literature review, source organization, grammar and writing verification, and translation processes.