Spiritual harmony in the works of Shakarim Kudaiberdiuly and Yunus Emre

Abstract

Among the Turkic peoples, many prominent figures have made significant contributions to the development of science, education, culture, and literature. Their works often reflect shared spiritual and philosophical ideas. This scholarly article compares the literary heritage of Kazakh poet Shakarim Kudaiberdiuly and 13th-century Turkish poet Yunus Emre, highlighting thematic similarities in their writings. A brief overview of each poet’s biography is provided. The article explores commonalities between Kazakh and Turkish literature and emphasizes the continuity of literary traditions shared by both cultures. Shakarim, a key figure in Kazakh literature, and Yunus Emre, who played a major role in the development of Turkish poetry, both addressed themes such as spiritual purification, inner harmony, and the search for truth. Their works serve as a reflection of the moral and philosophical values of the Turkic world. The main goal of this study is to identify the cultural and spiritual connections between Kazakh and Turkish literature through a comparative analysis of the two poets’ works. The findings contribute to literary and Turkological research and can be used in courses on the history of Kazakh and Turkish literature, in Shakarim studies, and in seminars focusing on both authors.