THE ISSUE OF PROTOTYPES IN ALISHER NAVOI’S EPIC “SADDI ISKANDARIY”

Аннотация

Alisher Navoi’s epic “Saddi Iskandariy” (Iskandar’s wall) is one of the most remarkable works of Uzbek literature. This masterpiece portrays the life and achievements of Iskandar Zulkarnain while addressing significant socio-political issues of Navoi’s time. Through the events depicted in the epic, the poet explores solutions to pressing societal challenges and presents his visionof an ideal ruler. Although Iskandar Zulkarnain is the central figure of the epic, the influence of Amir Temur is also vividly reflected in the narrative. Navoi endeavors to construct the image of a just and benevolent ruler, emphasizing qualities essential for the political and social landscape of his era. Keywords:justice, fairness, compassion, heroism, enlightenment, courage, religious tolerance, great commander. Alisher Navoi completed his epic poem “Iskandar’s Wall” in December 1484. That same year, the scribe Abduljamil successfully copied it, and in 1485, Navoi made several revisions to thetext. As in all the epic poems of Alisher Navoi’s Khamsa, Saddi Iskandariy embodies the ideal of a just ruler. The poem explores fundamental themes such as justice in human society, the qualitiesof arighteous leader, and theenlightenment oftheperfect individual. At the beginning of the epic, Iskandar is presented as the historical figure Alexander of Macedon; however, as the narrative progresses, Navoi gradually transforms him into an artistic and idealized portrayal. This transformation is evident from the very beginning, particularly in Iskandar’s philosophical exchanges with his teacher, Aristotle. Throughout the poem, allegorical tales and life stories serve to illuminate different facets of Iskandar’s character, further enriching hisdepiction as an ideal ruler. Before beginning “Saddi Iskandariy”, Hazrat Alisher Navoi meticulously studied the history ofthe great conqueror. This makes it evident that although the great thinker wrote“Tarihi Anbiyo vaHukamo” (History of Prophets andSages)after completing his Khamsa,hehad begun gathering materials for this historical work much earlier. In his work “Tarihi Anbiyo va Hukamo”, it is stated that Iskandar is the fourth son of Zulkarnain Yafas. Iskandar is described as surpassing all rulers before and after him, as a sage and a saint, and even as a prophet in the eyes of some. The text recounts that four hundred sages served under him, including Aristotle, and that he built a barrier against Gog and Magog. It also attributes the founding of cities such as Merv, Herat, Samarkand and Isfahan to him. While Navoi made extensive use of these historical materials, he primarily based his portrayal of Iskandar on the story of Zulkarnain in the surah “Al-Kahf” of the Holy Quran. Across historical, scientific, and literary sources, Iskandar’s most significant service to humanity is often cited as the construction of a wall against Gog and Magog. This historical event serves as the foundation ofSaddi Iskandariy,shaping itstitle, plot,and composition. In the work of “Tarihi Muluki Ajam” (The History of the Persian Kings), Navoi acknowledges his sources, stating: “In the humble Saddi Iskandariy, I have preferred the words of those two great historians (Nizami and Dehlavi – P.I.) over those of others and have chosen to render them page1164 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ISSN:2692-5206,ImpactFactor:12,23 AmericanAcademicpublishers,volume05,issue02,2025 Journal: https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai into poetry” [3, 217]. This demonstrates that in composing Saddi Iskandariy, Navoi drew inspiration from Nizami’s Iskandarnama (Iskandar’s book) and Khusrau’s Ainayi Iskandari (The mirror of Iskandar), as well as numerous historical accounts. Indeed, historical scholarship was a fundamental element in the works of earlier poets, particularly Nizami Ganjavi, and many themes, motifs, and images in the Khamsa have identifiable historical sources. In this regard, Navoi’s epic stands apart from those of his great predecessors, Nizami Ganjavi and Khusrau Dehlavi [3,12]. Aware of the long-standing literary tradition surrounding Iskandar’s legend, Navoi sought to provide scientifically accurate details in his epic and to critically analyze the works ofthosewho camebefore him. Alisher Navoi portrays Iskandar as a guardian. In the poet’s view, Iskandar is not merely anordinary king buta sovereign endowed with supernatural power. The epic Saddi Iskandariy extols universal human values such as justice, fairness, and kindness. Moreover, it dedicates significant attention to issues such as the standard of living, the spiritual world, and the aspirations of the people. This allows us to interpret Saddi Iskandariy not merely as a historical narrative but as a work of art imbued with profound philosophical and social significance [10,56]. With its artistic excellence and deep ideological substance, Saddi Iskandariy remains one of the most distinguished masterpieces of Uzbek literature. Engagin