Paradise and hell in classical Turkish poetry

Paradise and hell, which are significant in terms of the life after death, have always become a focus of attention in almost all religions and beliefs including Islam, in particular. This study, which was inspired by a topic in the field of belief, addresses the reflections of the Islamic and Sufi understanding of paradise and hell in classical Turkish poetry. After a discussion of the approach to paradise and hell in various religions and mythologies, on the one hand, and Islam and Sufism, on the other hand, the use of various elements of these concepts in the classical Turkish poetry in the way of similes, comparisons, symbols, metaphors and mythology was assessed. It was aimed, in this way, to determine the influence of Islam and Sufism on the classical Turkish poetry. Broadly framed so as to include the Ottoman period and geography, the study was limited with forty-two divans by following some certain rules. Concepts relating to paradise and hell were searched in these collections, and the striking couplets or strophes containing them were analyzed. Rather than directly translating the poems used in the study into the new script, their meanings were stated, and annotations regarding paradise and hell were made. Thus, the way classical Turkish poems treat paradise and hell as two dwellings of the afterworld, which is of importance for humans, was revealed and an opportunity was provided for getting more familiar with such poems. The study also enabled us to learn from which perspectives a creedal topic of the Islam is dealt with in classical Turkish poems including Sufi approaches. Key Words: Classical Turkish Poetry, Paradise, Hell, Divan, Islam, Sufism.