The Role of Mukhammad Shaybani Khan’s Works within the Classical Chaghatay Literature

Abstract

In reference to the studies and research conducted so far, Chaghatay, the medieval literary Turkic language, has a major impact on Islamic Central Asian Turkic literature. Due to this fact, there is a key role of representatives such as Ali Shir Nava’i and Babur, who are considered the pillars of the Chaghatay language. Muhammad Shaybani Khan (1451-1510), a prominent figure of the late 15^th and early 16th centuries, was also one of the poets of the classical era of Chaghatay Turkic. Outside of his role as a conqueror and legislator, he composed several works, namely the collection of poems Dīvān, Bahru’l-Huda (Sea of Guidance) and a treatise related to fiqh, Islamic jurisprudence.

This article aims to illustrate the importance of Shaybani Khan’s works in Chaghatay literature and evaluate their role in the growth of the language. The study starts with a brief overview of Chaghatay literature and outlines key moments in Shaybani Khan’s life and career. The discussion turns to three of his known compositions. Building on the research of Yakup Karasoy and August Samie, the article analyzes selected passages that reveal how Shaybani Khan wove together religious discourse, moral exhortation, and political messages within his writings. His works demonstrate a deliberate blending of poetic form with ideological purpose, seeking both to affirm Sunni Islam and to legitimize his political authority. The analyses highlight that Shaybani Khan’s writings emerge not only as literary compositions but also as powerful vehicles of religious and political expression in the broader context of Chaghatay literary tradition.