İslamî Muavenet ve Ulusötesi Savunuculuk: Mehmet Akif Ersoy ve İran Örneği

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 30 - 39

Mortaza Firuzi , Murat Alanoğlu

https://doi.org/10.33709/ictimaiyat.1641032

Abstract

Cultural and historical similarities play a crucial role in fostering interactions between nations, while overlooking these commonalities can exacerbate perceived differences. Iran and Turkey share deep religious, linguistic, and literary traditions, which have historically influenced intellectual exchanges between the two nations. Mehmet Akif Ersoy, a prominent Turkish poet and thinker, exemplified this connection through his admiration for Iranian literature, particularly the works of Saadi Shirazi, and his deep concern for Iran’s political struggles. During the Iranian Constitutional Revolution (1905–1911), Mehmet Akif and Cemal Kuntay co-authored the poem “Acem Şahı” as a response to the bombardment of the Iranian National Council in 1908. This poem, published in Sebilürreşad, reflected Ersoy’s Islamist perspective, emphasizing resistance against autocracy. Recognizing his support, the Qajar government considered awarding him a Badge of Merit and Virtue. This paper examines Mehmet Akif’s perception of Iran and his advocacy for its people. It explores his biography and ideological approach, followed by an analysis of Iran’s response, particularly through two Ottoman documents on the proposed award. The findings suggest Ersoy’s commitment to the Ummah primarily motivated his defense of the Iranian Constitutional movement, positioning him as a transnational intellectual figure in the Muslim world.

Keywords

Mehmet Akif Ersoy , İran Meşrutiyet Devrimi , Osmanlı İmparatorluğu , İran-Türkiye İlişkileri , İslami Dayanışma

Ethical Statement

Yazar(lar), çalışmanın hazırlanma sürecinde etik ilkelere uyduklarını beyan etmiştir.

Islamic Solidarity and Transnational Advocacy: The Case of Mehmet Akif Ersoy and Iran

Abstract

Cultural and historical similarities play a crucial role in fostering interactions between nations, while overlooking these commonalities can exacerbate perceived differences. Iran and Turkey share deep religious, linguistic, and literary traditions, which have historically influenced intellectual exchanges between the two nations. Mehmet Akif Ersoy, a prominent Turkish poet and thinker, exemplified this connection through his admiration for Iranian literature, particularly the works of Saadi Shirazi, and his deep concern for Iran’s political struggles. During the Iranian Constitutional Revolution (1905–1911), Mehmet Akif and Cemal Kuntay co-authored the poem “Acem Şahı” as a response to the bombardment of the Iranian National Council in 1908. This poem, published in Sebilürreşad, reflected Ersoy’s Islamist perspective, emphasizing resistance against autocracy. Recognizing his support, the Qajar government considered awarding him a Badge of Merit and Virtue. This paper examines Mehmet Akif’s perception of Iran and his advocacy for its people. It explores his biography and ideological approach, followed by an analysis of Iran’s response, particularly through two Ottoman documents on the proposed award. The findings suggest Ersoy’s commitment to the Ummah primarily motivated his defense of the Iranian Constitutional movement, positioning him as a transnational intellectual figure in the Muslim world.

Keywords

Mehmet Akif Ersoy , Iranian Constitutional Revolution , Ottoman Empire , Iran-Turkey Relations , Islamic Solidarity

Ethical Statement

The author(s) declared that they complied with ethical principles during the preparation of the study.

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