Abstract

Mehmed Muhyiddin Üftāde Efendi is a significant mystic poet and Sufi who lived in Bursa during the 16th century. Raised in a Sufistic environment from an early age, Üftāde is known as the spiritual guide of the Celvetiyye tariqat. Much like almost every Sufi, Üftāde Efendi engaged with poetry and had a dīvān (collection of poems) comprising around sixty odes. He penned his poems in an ascetic style, utilizing simple and understandable Turkish, where he discussed the transience of worldly life, inviting people to worship and obey Allah. Üftāde accorded special importance to dhikr (remembrance of Allah) while calling people to worship. He regarded dhikr as a guide that brings individuals closer to Allah's pleasure and beauty. Consistently advising those who wish to progress in spiritual path (sayr u sulūk) and aspire to reach Allah to engage in dhikr, Üftāde emphasizes that dhikr should not only resonate on the tongue but also affect the heart. Upon examining the poems in Üftāde’s dīvān, it is apparent that the subject of dhikr holds a significant place. In some instances, Üftāde addresses dhikr in the entirety of a poem, while in others, he touches upon it in certain verses. This study has examined the poems related to dhikr in Üftāde's dīvān and analyzed Üftāde’s perspective on dhikr.