The eleventh conference in the Islamic Studies Conference Series, organized by the School of Islamic Studies at Ibn Haldun University, took place on Tuesday, December 16, at the Ömer Faruk Harman Hall, featuring a lecture by Assoc. Prof. Ahmet Murat Özel entitled “Yunus Emre’s Choice: Morality or Love?” The program examined Yunus Emre’s intellectual world within the framework of the classical Sufi tradition, moral philosophy, and Islamic intellectual history.
Assoc. Prof. Özel emphasized that in Yunus Emre’s texts, the concepts of morality and love are not constructed as two opposing orientations, but rather as fundamental notions that complement one another and gain meaning together. He stated that Yunus Emre’s Sufi discourse is not merely a language of individual spirituality, but also offers a moral perspective that guides social life. Within this framework, he noted that the concept of “love” should not be understood as a form of emotionalism that excludes moral responsibility; on the contrary, it should be regarded as a foundational principle that deepens and gives meaning to moral maturity.
The program also addressed Yunus Emre’s poetic language, the relationship between Anatolian Sufism and broader social audiences, the circulation of religious knowledge, and the construction of moral authority. Particular attention was drawn to the decisive role of Yunus Emre’s plain style and powerful imagery in enabling Sufi thought to take root in the social sphere.
The event, which was followed with great interest by academics and students, concluded with a question-and-answer session.
