"The Reality of Love and the Humanitarian Perspective in Bektashism: A Study Based on the Works of Yunus Emre"

Abstract

Love, as one of the pillars of Islamic mysticism, holds an exalted position in the spiritual and social path of the Bektashi order. In this tradition, love is not merely a fleeting emotion but a sublime path to attaining divine proximity and reaching the Almighty through love for humanity. The poetry of Yunus Emre, the renowned Bektashi mystic, with its simple, profound, and impactful expression, has deeply permeated Bektashi lodges and reflects this transcendent truth in Anatolia and the Balkans. Therefore, the present study, employing a library-based method and analytical approach, examines the concept and significance of various forms of love in Yunus Emre’s poetry, exploring it as a transformative and generative truth in creation, human spiritual life, and the establishment of spiritual peace and a humanitarian outlook in societies. In Yunus Emre’s thought, there exists a deep and inseparable bond between love for humanity, love for the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and love for the Divine Essence. Metaphorical love, manifested in affection and friendship with people, is the initial stage of mystical journeying. This love then evolves through attachment to the Prophet (PBUH)—the mediator of creation and guide to the Divine—and ultimately reaches its zenith in the station of divine love. This progression, perfected through fana fi’llah (annihilation in God), marks the culmination of the human spiritual path in the Bektashi tradition, fostering tolerance and connection to the principle of compassion and love for humanity