The Creative Work of Abbas Sahhat in the Context of Turkism and Ummah-ism

Abstract

This article presents an academic analysis of Abbas Sahhat's work, focusing on the worldview expressed in his poetry. It examines the poet's perspectives on religious and secular education, emphasizing the importance he places on both educational systems in fostering national self-awareness. Within this framework, the role of religious belief in the poet’s educational worldview is clarified. It is argued that Abbas Sahhat gives prominence not only to Turkism but also to the concept of Ummah (community of believers) in the context of national progress, selfrecognition, and self-identity. The article delves into the meanings of terms like “nation” and “Turkish nation,” as well as the poetic interpretations of “Islam” in Abbas Sahhat’s work. It is highlighted that in most of his poetry, the term “Islam” is used in the sense of Ummah-ism rather than as a synonym for “nation.” Through numerous poetic examples, it is demonstrated that the poet’s understanding and poetic expression of the concept of nation increasingly focus on unique national identity, and the community we belong to is explicitly called the Turkish nation. Abbas Sahhat places the essential attributes that define Turkishness and Turkism at the center of his literary analysis, offering their poetic interpretations.