Abstract:

The image of the sea has an important place in sufism. Not only the sea, but also elements related to the sea such as wave, drop, diver, bahri (a kind of sea duck), pearl and coral are also used as a mystical symbol in legends and dervish lodge's poetry. One of the elements used as a sufi symbol is fish. In sufism, the sea symbolizes unity. The dervish diving into the sea of unity is likened to a fish in the sea. Because fish cannot live without the sea. Also dervish cannot live without diving into the sea of unity. The fact that fish is an animal found in narratives and legends has also enabled it to be used as a tool that gives a religious message in dervish lodge's poetry. Various advices and mystical wisdoms are sometimes expressed through the characteristics of fish. In this study, how the fish metaphor is used in legends and dervish lodge's poetry was discussed. Our study consists of an introduction part, two main parts and a conclusion part. In the introduction part, brief information was given about how the sea and the elements related to the sea were used in sufism and dervish lodge's poetry. In the first part, it was focused on how the fish was described in narratives and legends. Some narratives in the Qur’an were mentioned. Sufi legends about fish were discussed. The importance of fish in religious-mystical sources was revealed. In the second part, the place of fish in dervish lodge's poetry was explained. Some analogies and features related to fish were listed. The couplets related to the subject have been translated and explained according to modern Turkish. In the conclusion section, the benefits obtained from the research were discussed.

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