CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2025
| Author | Eris, Zeynep Sevgi |
|---|---|
| Title | Ahmed Dagistani's Esoteric Interpretations of the Quran: Letter Mysticism in Early 20th-Century Anatolia |
| Summary | This thesis examines Asrār al-Jabarūtī al-Aʿlā, (The Mysteries of the High World of Omnipotence) an early 20th-century text by Ahmed Dağıstani who engaged with each letter of the Arabic alphabet to interpret the Quran. This interpretive approach is more about the letters and their mystical meanings. Letter mysticism (ilm al-ḥurūf ) or more popularly Hurufi ideas from the 14th century continued to influence Islamic thought in Anatolia, particularly within Sufi orders like the Bektashis. However, these ideas were perceived heretical by the ulama in the late Ottoman period. This study investigates how and why Dağıstani engaged with the letter mysticism in the early 20th century where such Hurufi-influenced works were rare. Dağıstani’s focus on letters of the Quran and the intellectual traditions that might have informed his interpretations is a central theme for this thesis. Moreover, the thesis compares Dağıstani’s interpretation of the disjointed letters of the Quran (huruf al-muqatta)‘ with that of Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır , highlighting the distinctions between the mystical and rational exegeses. I argue that letter mysticism in Asrār al-Jabarūtī al-Aʿlā serves as a means for Dağıstani to express his unconventional interpretations of the Quran, aligning more with Ibn Arabi’s philosophy than with Hurufi ideas. This research contributes to the study of non-canonical Islamic texts and the broader history of esoteric traditions while demonstrating how much intellectual, and political changes in the late Ottoman Empire and early 20th century were influential on Quran commentaries. It also emphasizes the lasting impact of esoteric approaches to Quranic interpretation. |
| Supervisor | Wilson, Brett |
| Department | Historical Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2025/eris_zeynep-sevgi.pdf |
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