HISTORICAL REVIEW OF STUDIES CONDUCTED IN TATARSTAN ON THE LIFE AND WORKS OF AHMED YESEVÎ

Ahmed Yesevi, also known as Pir-i Turkestan Hodja Ahmed Yesevi, is an important scholar of the Turkish-Islamic world and one of the pioneers of Turkish Sufism. He was a poet and expert in Sufism and Islamic sciences who lived in the 12th century. Yesevi made significant contributions to the Islamic enlightenment of the Turkish people. Many academics from different countries have conducted various studies on his life and creative works. Among scientific studies, the subject of Sufism and Sufi philosophy has an important place.
This article deals with the examination of the life and activities of Ahmed Yesevi, one of the pioneers of the Turkish-Islamic Sufi tradition, in both local and international Turkology studies. The analysis of publications in Tatarstan, the study of Ahmed Yesevi’s works in the context of Tatar theological thought and Tatar literary studies are handled independently. The article underlines the importance of Ahmed Yesevi’s role and position in the spiritual world of the Tatars. After examining the research of Tatar academics on the subject, the author determined that the studies were of a general nature. The analysis of the heritage was carried out under the influence of methodological stereotypes and ideological prejudices formed during the years of Soviet rule. In conclusion, future research prospects on this topic are outlined. The article is based on the concrete-historical cognitive method, which gives priority to the principle of historicism and the system approach when examining the evolution of culture and social thought.
Keywords: Ahmad Yesevî, Sufi poet, Creativity, Mysticism, Tarikh.