THE PROBLEM OF TAFAKKUR IN THE TEACHINGS OF A. YASAWI

Abstract

This article analyzes the place and role of the concept of «tafakkur» (deep reflection, inner contemplation) in the teachings of one of the leading representatives of the Central Asian Sufi tradition, Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. The understanding of tafakkur, reflected in his work, the Divan-i Hikmet, represents a multilayered conceptual framework aimed not only at personal spiritual purification but also at shaping public morality. The study examines Yasawi's texts in their historical context, identifying the Qur'anic and hadith sources of tafakkur, as well as the central role of this concept in his Sufi pedagogy. Furthermore, the significance of tafakkur practice in the socio-cultural environment of the era and Yasawi's contribution to the development of the Turkic-Islamic Sufi tradition are analyzed. A qualitative content analysis of the relevant bayts of the Divan-i Hikmet reveals their thematic features. The results of the study demonstrate that Yasavi's understanding of tafakkur serves as a guide not only for individual mystical experience but also for strengthening social solidarity, moral improvement, and achieving the ideal of «insan-i kamil.» Thus, the article reveals how, in Yasavi's worldview, tafakkur is shaped as a personal and collective spiritual practice, making a significant contribution to contemporary Sufism studies and the history of Islamic thought.