AN EXAMPLE OF KARBALA DIRGES REFLECTED ON TURKISH SOCIETY: A KARBALA DIRGE WRITTEN AS AN ADDITION TO A VERSE OF SHEIKH GALIB

The incident of Hz. Hussein’s martyrdom in Karbala expresses deep sadness in the Islamic society. Expressing the sadness felt about this sad event and the impact it left on the hearts of Karbala dirges were written to mourn what was done to Hz. Hussein and his family. For centuries, it has become a tradition to recite it along with many rituals in all segments of Turkish society, especially Encyclopaedia of Islam, in the month of Muharram when he was martyred and on the day of Ashura. In fact, this has become mandatory in all lodges. Accordingly, the writing of Karbala dirges has become increasingly popular among poets in classical Turkish literature. Karbala dirges have been written by important poets over the centuries. In this study, a Karbala dirge written in addition to a poem by Sheikh Galib, one of the important poets of classical Turkish literature, will be discussed. The dirge is included in a poem collection in the National Library. It is titled “Elegy to the Continent of His Holiness Sheikh Galib Kuddise Sırrıhu’l-Vâhib with the Addition of Eleven Couples”. It is not clear who composed the dirge, which is not included in Sheikh Galib’s Divan. Characteristics such as the title of the poem, its content and the stylistic characteristics of the poet do not fully reveal who it belongs to. However, its creation as an addition to Sheikh Galib’s stanza brings to mind an example of compensation in classical Turkish poetry. This study was primarily aimed to identify how the love and respect for Hz. Hussein in Turkish society was reflected in all segments of society. In addition, it was aimed to introduce this elegy, which could be considered among the exceptional examples of the genre, and to provide information about the form and content characteristics of Karbala dirges.
Keywords: Karbala Dirges, Sheikh Galib, poem collection, Turkish culture, Hz. Hussein