THE INTERRELATIONSHIP OF ABAY'S TEACHINGS AND JADIDIST IDEAS

Abstract

Abstract: This scholarly article comprehensively examines the substantive interconnection between the religious-philosophical teachings of the prominent figure of Kazakh spirituality, Abay Qunanbaiuly, and the educationally reformist Jadidist ideas within the Turkic-Muslim world. During the research, Abay’s works addressing faith, knowledge of God, human nature, and spiritual perfection are systematically analyzed, revealing that the poet’s religious perspective is more closely connected with inner belief, purity of heart, and cognition based on reason, rather than mere external forms of worship. Furthermore, the rational character of Abay’s religious understanding, his critical approach to interpreting faith, and his perspectives on religious education are comparatively examined in relation to the pedagogical and reformist principles of the Jadidist movement. The poet’s effort to liberate religion from blind superstition and to prioritize its moral and spiritual significance aligns substantively with the Jadidist principles of «conscious religion» and «modernized education», which is demonstrated on a scholarly basis. The study places particular emphasis on Abay’s doctrine of the «perfect human», analyzing its foundational categories of reason, justice, and compassion, which constitute the framework for cultivating a mature personality. The connection of this doctrine with the Jadidist movement’s ideas on developing individuals spiritually and intellectually is clearly established. Comparative-historical, hermeneutical, and textual analysis methods are applied throughout the article, systematically outlining the similarities and distinctions between Abay’s heritage and Jadidist thought. Ultimately, it is concluded that the core aim of both approaches is to renew human consciousness and to elevate society spiritually by integrating faith and knowledge.