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SULAYMON BOQIRG‘ONIY (HAKIM OTA)’S APHORISMS -OUR SPIRITUAL
HERITAGE
Fayziyeva Dilorom Shabonovna
Third-year doctoral student,Tashkent State University
of the Uzbek Language and Literature
Abstract:
This article examines the aphorisms (hikmatlar) of Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy (Hakim
Ota), one of the prominent Sufi poets of the 12th century, as a form of spiritual heritage. His
creative legacy occupies a significant place in classical Uzbek literature, particularly within the
tradition of moral and spiritual aphoristic writing. The Islamic values, ethical virtues, and
thoughts leading toward spiritual perfection reflected in Boqirg‘oniy’s works harmonize with
both national and universal human values. This study highlights the Sufi ideas in Hakim Ota’s
works, including love for God, devotion to the spiritual guide (murshid), the manners of the
tariqat (Sufi order), as well as themes of self-awareness, enlightenment, and the call toward
perfection. Special attention is also given to the ideas in his aphorisms aimed at cultivating
social consciousness, and fostering feelings of compassion and generosity among people.
Keywords:
Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy, Hakim Ota’s aphorisms, Sufi literature, spiritual heritage,
moral education, aphoristic tradition, Islamic values.
INTRODUCTION.
Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy, widely known among the people as Hakim Ota, is
considered one of the major Sufi poets who left a profound mark on the history of Uzbek
literature. His aphorisms have lived on in the consciousness of our people for centuries,
preserved in both oral and written form, reaching us to this day. The creative legacy of
Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy is a unique source that expresses the national spirituality, religious-
philosophical worldview, and the system of moral ideals and values of the Uzbek people
.
The spiritual power of Boqirg‘oniy’s aphorisms lies in their ability to address not only
the issues of their own era but also the inner challenges of today’s society. His counsels, shaped
by life experience, religious knowledge, and spiritual purity, can serve as a guide and a source
of moral strength for the modern younger generation
. Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy’s aphorisms are
an inseparable part of our spiritual heritage, and their analysis, study, and application to
contemporary moral and educational systems is not only a scholarly task but also a socio-
spiritual necessity
MAIN PART.
In Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy’s aphorisms, numerous thoughts of profound
meaning and substance are expressed. The thematic scope of these aphorisms is vast, with the
primary goal being closeness to God.
1.The Theme of Truth and Divine Love:
A central layer of Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy’s
aphorisms is striving for divine love and the path of truth. For the poet, a person’s ultimate
purpose is to draw near to God and attain His pleasure:
“Whoever attains the Truth, attains true blessings,
1 1
Rafiddinov S.
Turkiston tasavvufi va Xakim ota merosi
. – Toshkent: Fan, 2010. – B. 38.
2
Sayfullayev B.
Tasavvuf va ma’naviyat
. – Toshkent: O‘zbekiston, 2008. – B. 16.
3
Sulaymon Boqirgʻoniy.
Hikmatlar
. – Toshkent: Gʻafur Gʻulom nashriyoti, 1993. – B. 5.
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The love of this world is nothing but a disaster.
(Kimki Haqni topsa, topqay ne’mat,
Dunyo ishqi erur barin afat.)
In this verse, the word Haq refers to God, ne’mat signifies true blessing, while the love
of the world is interpreted as a disaster. The poet conveys one of the fundamental concepts of
Sufism — renunciation of worldly attachments in order to attain God — in a simple, folk-
oriented, and impactful manner. This idea remains relevant in today’s moral education,
especially in an era where material values are increasingly dominant.
2. Call for Know ledge and Wisdom:
In Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy’s creative legacy, the
promotion of knowledge, wisdom, and learning occupies a special place. He considers
knowledge to be the most important means on the path to spiritual perfection:
“Seek knowledge, for one’s path is measured by knowledge,
Whoever is ignorant has no standard for their actions.”
(Ilm o‘rgan, yo‘l o‘lchanar ilm bilan,
Har kim nodon, yo‘q o‘lchovi bilgan.)
In this aphorism, alongside praising knowledge, the consequences of ignorance are also
revealed. In the poet’s own words, the criterion that shows a person the right path is knowledge.
This idea is also significant from a textual-studies perspective, as through these aphorisms the
poet calls the people toward knowledge in their own native, familiar language rather than in a
foreign tongue.
3. Moral Education: Patience and Truthfulness.
Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy connects
moral perfection with Sufi ideals of spiritual maturity. Patience, honesty, and sincerity are
dominant moral values in his works:
“Be patient ,for patience achieves the goal,
Whoever is impatient brings corruption upon himself and others.”
(
Sabr qilgin, sabr ila yetar maqsad,
Kimki sabrsiz, o‘zi o‘zga qilur fasod
.)
This verse highlights the social and spiritual significance of patience. The expression
“patience achieves the goal” is a folk-style reflection of a divine principle repeatedly
emphasized in the Holy Qur’an. Phonetically, the text sets up an opposition between the words
sabr (patience) and fasod (corruption).
“Speakn the truth, for lies are disgraceful,
On the path of truth one attains happiness.”
(Rostgo‘y bo‘l, yolg‘on erur qabohat,
Haqiqat yo‘lida topgay saodat).
In this aphorism, the poet links truth and happiness with honesty, while interpreting lies
as a vice. These ideas are in harmony with Islamic moral standards and serve to guide young
people onto the right path.
4
Sulaymon Boqirgʻoniy.
Hikmatlar
. – B. 15
.
5
Rafiddinov S.
Turkiston tasavvufi va Xakim ota merosi
. – B. 63.
6
Sulaymon Boqirgʻoniy.
Hikmatlar
. – B. 18
7
Sulaymon Boqirgʻoniy.
Hikmatlar
. – B. 20
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ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
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4. Respect for Parents and Teachers:
In Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy’s works, the ideas of
respecting parents and showing devotion to teachers also hold a prominent place:
“Comfort is found in the pleasure of your parents,
Listen to the words of your teacher, and you will not regret.”
(Ota-onang rizosida topgay rohat,
Ustoz so‘zin eshit, bo‘lmas nadomat).
This aphorism encourages young people to respect social values. From a textual-studies
perspective, these lines demonstrate how the poet used the genre of aphorisms as a pedagogical
tool. This idea is especially important today against the backdrop of moral crises affecting
education.
A textual analysis of Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy (Hakim Ota)’s aphorisms shows that his
works occupy a significant place in Uzbek classical literature not only as a religious-
philosophical legacy, but also as a social and educational one. The Sufi ideas expressed in the
aphorisms — striving toward God, purifying the self (nafs), patience, truthfulness, pursuit of
knowledge, respect for parents — have deeply permeated the public consciousness and are
conveyed in a folk-oriented yet artistically refined style.
In the course of the analysis, it has been established that Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy’s aphorisms
can be classified into the following main spiritual directions:
Sufi direction
— seeking the Truth, renouncing worldly desires, striving for spiritual
perfection;
Moral direction
— aphorisms encouraging patience, honesty, loyalty, truthfulness, and
humility;
Scientific-enlightenment direction
— emphasizing the priority of knowledge and
exposing the harmful consequences of ignorance;
Social-educational direction
— respect for teachers and parents, responsibility before
society;
Inner self (nafs) education
— achieving spiritual elevation through victory over the
self.
These directions demonstrate that the poet’s aphorisms possess not only a religious-didactic
spirit, but also deep psychological, pedagogical, and spiritual-philosophical significance. A
textological approach to analyzing the aphorisms allows us to move beyond their literal
wording and penetrate the contextual layers of meaning and ideas. Another important feature of
Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy’s aphorisms is that they are written in a simple, accessible language
close to the people, yet they integrate profound philosophy and religious aesthetics. Such an
approach makes the poet’s works appealing to young people across all social strata and serves
as a spiritual compass for them.
CONCLUSION
.The aphorisms of Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy (Hakim Ota) are a priceless
legacy that has taken deep root in the history of Uzbek literature and spirituality, retaining its
relevance in every era. Through his works, our people have absorbed not only the lofty
philosophical ideas of Sufi knowledge but also moral, spiritual, and pedagogical values that can
be applied to everyday life. A textological approach to the study of these aphorisms shows that
Boqirg‘oniy was not only a representative of medieval religious and spiritual thought but also a
mentor capable of guiding the younger generation of today. His aphorisms emdiv life
experience harmonized with modern social values, education, reflection, and enlightenment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 07,2025
Journal:
https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai
page 165
References:
1. Rafiddinov, S. Sufism in Turkestan and the Legacy of Hakim Ota. Tashkent: Fan, 2010, p.
38.
2. Sayfullayev, B. Sufism and Spirituality. Tashkent: Uzbekistan, 2008, p. 16.
3. Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy. Aphorisms. Tashkent: G‘afur G‘ulom Publishing House, 1993, p. 5.
4. Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy. Aphorisms, p. 15.
5. Rafiddinov, S. Sufism in Turkestan and the Legacy of Hakim Ota, p. 63.
