SULAYMON BOQIRG‘ONIY (HAKIM OTA)’S APHORISMS -OUR SPIRITUAL HERITAGE

Аннотация

This article examines the aphorisms (hikmatlar) of Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy (Hakim Ota), one of the prominent Sufi poets of the 12th century, as a form of spiritual heritage. His creative legacy occupies a significant place in classical Uzbek literature, particularly within the tradition of moral and spiritual aphoristic writing. The Islamic values, ethical virtues, and thoughts leading toward spiritual perfection reflected in Boqirg‘oniy’s works harmonize with both national and universal human values. This study highlights the Sufi ideas in Hakim Ota’s works, including love for God, devotion to the spiritual guide (murshid), the manners of the tariqat (Sufi order), as well as themes of self-awareness, enlightenment, and the call toward perfection. Special attention is also given to the ideas in his aphorisms aimed at cultivating social consciousness, and fostering feelings ofcompassion and generosity among people. Keywords: Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy, Hakim Ota’s aphorisms, Sufi literature, spiritual heritage, moral education, aphoristic tradition, Islamicvalues. INTRODUCTION. Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy, widely known among the people as Hakim Ota, is considered one of the major Sufi poets who left a profound mark on the history of Uzbek literature. His aphorisms have lived on in the consciousness of our people for centuries, preserved in both oral and written form, reaching us to this day. The creative legacy of Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy is a unique source that expresses the national spirituality, religious- philosophicalworldview, and thesystem ofmoral ideals and values ofthe Uzbekpeople1. The spiritual power of Boqirg‘oniy’s aphorisms lies in their ability to address not only the issues of their own era but also the inner challenges of today’s society. His counsels, shaped by life experience, religious knowledge, and spiritual purity, can serve as a guide and a source of moral strength for the modern younger generation2. Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy’s aphorisms are an inseparable part of our spiritual heritage, and their analysis, study, and application to contemporary moral and educational systems is not only a scholarly task but also a socio- spiritualnecessity3. MAIN PART. In Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy’s aphorisms, numerous thoughts of profound meaning and substance are expressed. The thematic scope of these aphorisms is vast, with the primary goal being closeness to God. 1.The Theme of Truth and Divine Love: A central layer of Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy’s aphorisms is striving for divine love and the path of truth. For the poet, a person’s ultimate purposeis to draw near to God and attain His pleasure: “Whoever attainstheTruth, attains trueblessings, 11RafiddinovS.TurkistontasavvufivaXakimotamerosi.–Toshkent:Fan,2010.–B.38. 2SayfullayevB.Tasavvufvama’naviyat.–Toshkent:O‘zbekiston,2008.–B.16. 3SulaymonBoqirgʻoniy.Hikmatlar.–Toshkent:GʻafurGʻulomnashriyoti,1993.–B.5. page162 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ISSN:2692-5206,ImpactFactor:12,23 AmericanAcademicpublishers,volume05,issue07,2025 Journal: https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai Theloveof thisworld is nothing buta disaster.4” (KimkiHaqni topsa, topqay ne’mat, Dunyo ishqierur barin afat.) In this verse, the word Haq refers to God, ne’mat signifies true blessing, while the love of the world is interpreted as a disaster. The poet conveys one of the fundamental concepts of Sufism — renunciation of worldly attachments in order to attain God — in a simple, folk- oriented, and impactful manner. This idea remains relevant in today’s moral education, especially in an era where material values are increasingly dominant. 2. Call for Know ledge and Wisdom: In Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy’s creative legacy, the promotion of knowledge, wisdom, and learning occupies a special place. He considers knowledgeto be themostimportant means onthepath tospiritual perfection: “Seek knowledge, forone’s path is measured byknowledge, Whoeveris ignorant has nostandard for theiractions.”5 (Ilm o‘rgan, yo‘l o‘lchanar ilm bilan, Harkim nodon,yo‘qo‘lchovi bilgan.) In this aphorism, alongside praising knowledge, the consequences of ignorance are also revealed. In thepoet’s own words, the criterion that shows a person the right path is knowledge. This idea is also significant from a textual-studies perspective, as through these aphorisms the poet calls the people toward knowledge in their own native, familiar language rather than in a foreign tongue. 3. Moral Education: Patience and Truthfulness. Sulaymon Boqirg‘oniy connects moral perfection with Sufi ideals of spiritual maturity. Patience, honesty, and sincerity are dominantmoral values inhis works: “Be patient ,for patience achieves thegoal, Whoeveris impatient brings corruption uponhimselfand others.”6 (Sabrqilgin, sabr ilayetar maqsad, Kimkisabrsiz, o‘zio‘zga qilurfasod.) This verse highlights the social and spiritual significance of patience. The expression “patience achieves the goal” is a folk-style reflection of a divine principle re