Session meetings were held at our university as part of the International Cultural and Scientific Symposium titled “Artisans (Akhilik) in the Footsteps of Khoja Akhmet Yassawi.”
The event brought together Musa Kazım, Chairman of the Writers’ Union of Türkiye and Rector of Ankara Social Sciences University; professors from Kırşehir Ahi Evran University and Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University; scholars from Anadolu, Ordu, and Kültür Universities; and representatives of the intellectual community.
The purpose of the sessions was to comprehensively explore and promote the culture of Khoja Akhmet Yassawi, the Anatolian institutions shaped by the Yassawi tradition, the connections between Yasawism and Akhilik, their ideological continuity, and the shared Central Asian values of honesty, national unity, cooperation, mutual respect, and support.
The first session, “Historical Connections Between Yasawism and Akhilik,” was chaired by Professor Fatih Ünal of Ordu University. Professor İlhan Şahin opened the session with an introductory speech on “Traces of Akhilik in Turkistan.”
Professor Feridun Emecen presented “Akhilik and the Early Ottomans in the Shadow of Asian Connections,” offering an in-depth analysis of Ottoman history. Professor Orhan Kurtoğlu discussed the relevance of Akhilik ethics in modern society, while Professor Haşim Şahin shared insights on “Sheikh Edebali and His Relationship with Akhilik.” Professor Mehmet Fatih Köksal described daily life within the Akhilik system, emphasizing that Ahi lodges served not only as religious centers but also as hubs of education and culture.
The second session, “From Yassawi to Ahi Evran: Akhilik from the Ancestral Land to Anatolia,” was chaired by Professor İlhan Şahin. Professor Hasan Şener examined the ideological continuity between Yasawism and Akhilik, and Professor Tahsin Hazırbulan highlighted that both teachings emerge from a shared civilizational foundation.
Additionally, Fatih Ünal presented on crafts and production in the Talas and Syr Darya regions during the Middle Ages, Zafer Sever discussed artisan guilds in the Turkistan region, and Osman Kabadayı addressed contemporary manifestations of the spiritual continuity from Yasawism to Akhilik.
The third session, “The Legacy of Akhilik from Turkistan to Anatolia,” was moderated by Professor Mesut Karakulak. Meryem Aybike Sinan spoke about the healing legacy of Gaukhar Ana, the sister of Khoja Akhmet Yassawi. Professor Medihanur Argali analyzed Yasawism and Akhilik within the context of Turkic-Islamic culture, Kadırali Konkobayev discussed its reflections among the Kyrgyz people, and Professor Harun Arslantürk examined the cultural memory and institutional continuity of the Akhilik organization.
The fourth session, “Akhilik in the History of Anatolian Culture,” was led by Professor Haşim Şahin. Professor Sadullah Gülten analyzed shared figures in Bektashism and Akhilik, Professor Bülent Şen highlighted the impact of Akhilik values such as trust, justice, and quality on the modern economy, and Lecturer Suzan Yıldırım discussed the historical role of Fatma Bacı and her contribution to women’s organizations.
Mussa Kazım delivered a presentation titled “From Khoja Akhmet Yassawi to Ahi Evran: Wisdom, Ethics, and Social Order,” and Professor İstemi Saylam presented the distinctive features of Akhilik culture in Anatolia.
All participating scholars emphasized the connection between the Akhilik tradition and the wisdom of Khoja Akhmet Yassawi, presenting research that highlighted the shared academic and cultural values of the Turkic world and examined their social dimensions in depth.
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