Encyclopedia of Islam

Yunus Emre (late 13th to early 14th
centuries) Turkish mystical poet
Yunus Emre is perhaps the most well-known
Turkish poet, not only because he was the first
major representative of Anatolian Turkish poetry,
but also because of the sheer beauty and sincerity
of his poems, and the continuing relevance they
have today.
Little historical information exists on the life
of Yunus Emre, though a note on a manuscript
collection of his poetry suggests that he died in
1320 or 1321. This places him during the turbu-
lent period after Mongol invasions had weakened
the Seljuk Empire and Turkish principalities were
vying for control over various parts of Anato-
lia. Several places in tUrkey claim to have been
the birthplace of Yunus, and even more claim
to bear his grave; it is likely that this is due to
his immense popularity and to the existence of
other poets going by the name Yunus and writing
in his style, which also complicates attributing
specific poems to him. Bektashis consider him to
have been a Bektashi, but he is also respected by
most other dervish orders in Turkey. His poetry
includes references to Tapduk Emre as his spiri-
tual master.
Yunus Emre’s poems have been collected in a
Divan, though the various manuscripts show dis-
crepancies in their content. He is also the author
of a poetic work entitled Risalat al-nushiyya,
which is dated to 1307–08. The language of his
poems is generally simple and close to that of the
common people. Motifs are drawn from nature
and from classical Sufi poetry, and themes include
the poet’s relationship with God (the Friend), the
transitoriness of life, and especially mystical love.
Most of his poems, because of their form and
mystical content, are considered ilahis (mystical
hymns), and many have been sung in the ceremo-

nies of dervish orders. A well-known example of

Yunus’s poetry is translated here in part by Talat

Halman:

I am not at this place to dwell,

I arrived here just to depart.

I’m a well-stocked peddler, I sell

To all those who’ll buy from my mart.

I am not here on earth for strife,

Love is the mission of my life.

Hearts are the home of the loved one;

I came here to build each true heart.

My madness is love for the Friend,

Lovers know what my hopes portend;

For me duality must end:

God and I must not live apart.

As the first major Turkish poet, Yunus Emre

influenced later poets writing in that language, and

he laid the foundation for the development of Turk-

ish mystical poetry. He continues to inspire modern

Turkish poets today, and his hymns continue to be

read and recited and to be sung in the ceremonies

of almost all dervish orders in Turkey. Yunus has

served as the subject of films, plays, and an orato-

rio, and he is commemorated annually in festivals.

See also bektashi sUFi order; mUsic; selJUk

dynasty; tUrkish langUage and literatUre.

Mark Soileau

Further reading: Talat Halman, ed., Yunus Emre and

His Mystical Poetry (Bloomington: Indiana University

Turkish Studies, 1981); Grace Martin Smith, The Poetry

of Yunus Emre, a Turkish Sufi Poet (Berkeley and Los

Angeles, University of California Press, 1993).

Yusuf See joseph.

Yusuf 717 J