THE INTERPRETATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND ENLIGHTENMENT IN THE LATER POEMS OF THE “KHAMSA”

Abstract

The tradition of Khamsa studies represents a significant artistic and educational phenomenon in the literary heritage of Eastern peoples, formed over centuries and aimed at promoting human perfection, moral maturity, and the pursuit of knowledge. The development of this tradition is closely associated with such prominent representatives of Persian-Tajik literature as Nizami Ganjavi, Khusraw Dehlavi, and Abdurrahman Jami. Their Khamsa epics stand out not only for their high artistic quality but also for their profound philosophical and didactic content. In Turkic literature, Alisher Navoi elevated this tradition to a new level by creating his unique Khamsa, thereby enriching it with original artistic and intellectual interpretations. Throughout all the epics of the Khamsa, the theme of knowledge and enlightenment occupies a central position. Poets portray learning as the primary means of achieving human perfection, reinforcing this idea through parables, narratives, and symbolic imagery. Particularly in the final epics known as Iskandarnama, the concepts of knowledge and wisdom acquire deep philosophical significance. The image of Iskandar is presented not merely as a conqueror, but as a just ruler striving for knowledge and engaging in dialogue with sages. Through these interactions, the indispensable role of knowledge in individual life, governance, and social progress is vividly demonstrated. This article examines the artistic and philosophical interpretation of enlightenment in the Iskandarnama epics.