American Journal Of Philological Sciences
133
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue07 2025
PAGE NO.
133-135
10.37547/ajps/Volume05Issue07-34
The Study of
Alisher Navoi’s Works
in Turkey
Maftuna Shuxratovna Ochilova
PhD, Lecturer, Department of Social and Humanitarian Sciences, Navoiy Innovations University, Uzbekistan
Received:
31 May 2025;
Accepted:
29 June 2025;
Published:
31 July 2025
Abstract:
This article explores the study of Alisher Navoi’s works in Turkey, providing detailed information about
the historical roots and scholarly heritage of his literary legacy. It discusses the manuscripts and facsimile copies
preserved in historic scientific centers such as the Süleymaniye Library in Istanbul. The article highlights the
research, translations, and exhibitions conducted by prominent Navoi scholars in Turkey, including Professor
Abdurahmon Go‘zal, Professor Lola Uluch, and Dr. Joshkun Yilmaz. It
also reviews Turkish translations of Navoi’s
epics like Hayrat ul-Abror and Layli and Majnun, as well as the linguistic analysis of Muhokamat ul-
Lug‘atayn. The
article sheds light on scientific cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkey, international symposiums, and the
activities of the Alisher Navoi Research Center. Attention is given to digitization efforts and electronic publishing
using modern technologies. The significance of Navoi’s work in Turkic culture and literature and its recognition on
an international scale is thoroughly examined. This article lays a scholarly foundation for the broader future study
of Navoi’s heritage
.
Keywords
:
Alisher Navoi, Navoi’s works, Navoi studies in Turkey, manuscripts in Istanbul libraries, Süleymaniye
Library, scholarly translation, Khamsa, Muhokamat ul-Lug‘atayn, Layli and Majnun, scientific monograph,
philological analysis, cultural heritage, academic cooperation, Uzbekistan-Turkey relations, digitization, Turkic
literary heritage
.
Introduction:
Alisher Navoi is a prominent thinker,
poet, statesman, and mystic who left an indelible mark
on Uzbek literature and the cultural life of Turkic
peoples. His rich literary legacy is studied not only in
Uzbekistan but throughout the Turkic world with great
respect. In particular, the study, publication,
translation, and commentary on Navoi’s works are
being actively pursued in Turkey through numerous
scientific and cultural projects. This article discusses
how Navoi’s works are studied in Turkey, the historical
phases of this research, leading Navoi scholars, and the
activities of academic institutions.
1. Historical Process of Navoi’s Works Entering Turkey
The introduction and gradual study of Alisher Navoi’s
literary heritage in Turkey can be traced back to the
19th and early 20th centuries, during a period when
intellectual and cultural exchanges between the
Ottoman Empire and Central Asia gained renewed
momentum. As scholarly interest in the shared roots of
Turkic literature grew, Ottoman-era historians,
philologists, and bibliophiles began to take a closer look
at the works of Navoi, recognizing his immense
contribution to the development of Turkic poetic
language and thought. Navoi’s texts made their initial
entry into Turkish academic and cultural circles
primarily through manuscript collections housed in
some of Istanbul’s most prestigious and historically
significant libraries. Among these, the Süleymaniye
Library, Beyazid State Library, Topkapı Palace
Manuscript Library, and other major archival
institutions played a central role. These repositories
safeguarded numerous handwritten copies of Navoi’s
most famous works, including illustrated versions of
Khamsa, scholarly editions of Muhokamat al-
Lug‘atayn,
and collections of his lyrical poetry (ghazals) and
didactic treatises. The presence of these manuscripts in
Ottoman libraries is a reflection of the wide
geographical influence of Navoi’s literary output, which
transcended the boundaries of Central Asia and
resonated deeply within the Ottoman intellectual
tradition. Scholars and copyists of the period
recognized the significance of preserving his works for
posterity, leading to the production of multiple
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
134
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
American Journal Of Philological Sciences (ISSN
–
2771-2273)
facsimile copies and the integration of his ideas into
broader discussions on poetics, ethics, and language.
During the late Ottoman and early Republican periods,
these manuscripts attracted the attention of Turkish
Orientalists and literary historians, some of whom
began cataloging, studying, and translating portions of
Navoi’s corpus. This early scholarly interest laid the
groundwork for the development of modern Navoi
studies in Turkey, eventually culminating in dedicated
research institutions, university courses, and cross-
cultural collaborations with Uzbek academics. Thus, the
historical process of Navoi’s works entering Turkey is
not only a story of manuscript transmission but also a
narrative of enduring intellectual curiosity and cultural
interconnectedness. It represents an early foundation
for the contemporary flourishing of Navoi scholarship
in Turkish academic and literary circles.
1.1. Manuscripts and Facsimiles
Navoi’s manuscripts are still preserved in major Turkish
libraries today, including:
•
An illustrated manuscript of Khamsa housed in
the Süleymaniye Library, notable for its miniature art
[1].
•
Facsimiles
of
Majalis
un-Nafais
and
Muhokamat ul-
Lug‘atayn serve as a basis for scholarly
research [2].
These manuscripts are valuable not only for their text
but also as historical sources.
2. Navoi Studies in Turkey: Leading Scholars and
Centers
Several prominent scholars in Turkey contribute to
Navoi studies through their research, publications, and
academic activities:
2.1. Professor Abdurahmon Go‘zal
•
Co-founder of the Alisher Navoi Research
Center at Bukhara University.
•
Organizer of international conferences and
symposiums in cooperation with Uzbekistan [3].
•
Uses modern scientific methods to analyze
Navoi’s works, emphasizing national ideas and
humanistic concepts.
2.2. Professor Lola Uluch
•
Professor at Boğaziçi University.
•
Prepared
an
album
titled
“Illustrated
Manuscripts of Al
isher Navoi’s Works in Istanbul
Libraries,” important for art history and philology [4].
2.3. Dr. Joshkun Yilmaz
•
Head of the Turkish Manuscripts Society.
•
Led the “Alisher Navoi Collection” exhibition
held in Istanbul in 2025, showcasing original
manuscripts, translations, and scholarly commentaries
[5].
3. Translations, Commentaries, and Publications
3.1. Translation Activities
Navoi’s works are translated into Turkish and provided
to readers with literary and scholarly commentary:
•
Epics such as Hayrat ul-Abror and Layli and
Majnun have been translated and presented to
literature enthusiasts [6].
•
Muhokamat ul-
Lug‘atayn is deeply analyzed
from linguistic and cultural perspectives, highlighting
Navoi’s views on Turkic and Persian languages [7].
3.2. Scholarly Monographs
Among the analytical monographs on Navoi’s works:
•
Tanju Seyhanlar’s Alisher Navoi’s Style: A
Philological Analysis discusses literary devices, tonal
aspects, and lexical structures [8].
•
Gunay Kut’s Alisher Navoi: Poet, Mystic, and
St
atesman explores Navoi’s mystic ideas, political
views, and social status [5].
4. Academic Cooperation and Projects
4.1. Academic Collaboration
Scientific relations between Uzbekistan and Turkey are
steadily strengthening:
•
Joint international symposiums are regularly
held between the Uzbek Academy of Sciences and
Turkish universities.
•
The establishment of the “Alisher Navoi
Research Center” in
2022 marked a new phase in
scholarly and organizational activities [9].
4.2. Research Based on Modern Technologies
In recent years, significant progress has been made in
the application of modern technologies to the
preservation, study, and dissemination of Alisher
Navoi’s literary heritage. One of the most impactful
developments is the large-
scale digitization of Navoi’s
manuscripts, which ensures the long-term preservation
of these invaluable cultural assets and facilitates global
access for researchers, students, and literature
enthusiasts.
High-resolution
digital
copies
of
manuscripts are now being stored in open-access
databases, enabling comparative studies, remote
scholarship, and more inclusive academic participation
regardless of geographical location.
In addition to digitization, several initiatives have
focused on converting Navoi’s works into various digital
formats, including e-books, searchable PDF editions,
and annotated interactive texts. These editions often
include multimedia enhancements such as audio
readings, commentaries, historical context, and
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
135
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
American Journal Of Philological Sciences (ISSN
–
2771-2273)
scholarly footnotes that enrich the reader’s experience
and deepen comprehension. Notably, the Digital
Resources Research Center at Istanbul University has
taken the lead in developing interactive platforms that
allow users to engage with Navoi’s texts in dynamic
ways. Their projects aim to integrate artificial
intelligence tools for linguistic analysis, translation
alignment, and semantic mapping, opening new paths
in digital humanities and classical Turkic studies.
Moreover, mobile applications have been launched to
popularize Navoi’s poetry among younger audiences,
incorporating gamification, social sharing, and
educational modules.
These technological innovations not only modernize
the study o
f Navoi’s legacy but also serve as a bridge
between traditional manuscript culture and the
demands of contemporary digital scholarship. They
reflect a broader shift in the humanities towards
accessibility,
interactivity,
and
interdisciplinary
engagement
—
ensuring that the timeless wisdom and
literary brilliance of Alisher Navoi continue to resonate
in the digital age.
CONCLUSION
The exploration of Alisher Navoi’s literary heritage in
Turkey stands as a vivid testament to the deep-rooted
cultural and spiritual affinity shared between the Uzbek
and Turkish peoples. This scholarly engagement not
only underscores the timeless significance of Navoi’s
works but also highlights their enduring relevance
across linguistic, literary, and cultural boundaries. His
contributions are being studied within diverse
academic disciplines such as philology, comparative
literature, manuscriptology, art history, and Islamic
thought, offering rich insights into the intellectual and
artistic traditions of the Turkic world. The active
involvement of Turkish scholars in translating,
annotating, and analyzing Navoi’s texts has opened
new avenues for interdisciplinary research. These
efforts, supported by academic institutions, libraries,
and cultural organizations, have helped preserve and
disseminate Navoi’s ideas in accessible formats for
both scholarly and general audiences. Notably, the use
of modern technologies for the digitization and
interactive presentation of manuscripts reflects a
progressive approach to heritage conservation and
public education. Furthermore, the organization of
international symposiums, collaborative research
projects, and the establishment of the Alisher Navoi
Research Center in Istanbul have elevated Navoi
studies to a global academic platform. Such initiatives
not only foster deeper intercultural understanding but
also contribute to a shared historical consciousness
among Turkic-speaking nations. In essence, the
comprehensive study of Alisher Navoi’s legacy in
Turkey has become an essential part of broader efforts
to celebrate and revitalize Turkic cultural identity. It
continues to inspire future generations of scholars and
readers, ensuring that Navoi’s humanistic philosophy,
poetic mastery, and spiritual vision remain a source of
enlightenment and unity for centuries to come.
REFERENCES
Süleymaniye Library Catalog
–
Illustrated manuscripts
of
Alisher
Navoi’s
works.
https://www.suleymaniye.org.tr
UZA
–
“The Study of Alisher Navoi’s Literary Heritage in
World Literature.” https://uza.uz
TRT Uzbek
–
“Establishment of Alisher Navoi Research
Center in Turkey.” https://www.trt.net.tr
UZReport
–
“Exhibition of Alisher Navoi Collection in
Turkey.” https://uzreport.news
Xabar.uz
–
“Gunay Kut’s Work on Alisher Navoi.”
https://www.xabar.uz
Navoi, A. Layli and Majnun
–
Turkish translation,
Istanbul, 2019.
Navoi, A. Muhokamat ul-
Lug‘atayn –
Linguistic analysis,
Ankara, 2020.
Seyhanlar, T. Alisher Navoi’s Style: Philological Analysis,
Istanbul, 2023.
Alisher Navoi Research Center
–
Official site.
https://navoiyturk.org
Uluch, L. Navoi Manuscripts in Istanbul Libraries,
Boğaziçi University Press, 2021.
Joshkun Yilmaz
–
Press release on “Alisher Navoi
Collection Exhibition,” Istanbul, 2025.
Turg‘unov, B. Navoi and Modern Philology, Ta
shkent:
Fan, 2020.
