The Creation and Composition of Sayyid Qasimiy’s “Majma’ Ul-Axbor”

Abstract

Classical Uzbek literature of the fifteenth century reflects the rich intellectual and cultural life of Central Asia, particularly through the continuation of the didactic and philosophical masnavi tradition.  Sayyid Qasimiy’s Majma’ ul-Axbor represents an important contribution to this heritage, modeled on Haydar Khorazmi’s Makhzan ul-Asrar and influenced by Nizami Ganjavi, yet enriched with distinctive features that reveal the poet’s originality and social concerns. Despite its literary value, this epic has received relatively little scholarly attention, and its thematic, structural, and stylistic aspects remain insufficiently studied within the broader framework of Uzbek classical literature. This research seeks to examine the creation, composition, and significance of Majma’ ul-Axbor, highlighting its moral-didactic themes, artistic features, and historical context. The findings show that Qasimiy’s work combines traditional introductory sections such as hamd, na’t, supplication, and eulogy with eighteen introductions (sarsuxan) and corresponding stories addressing issues of justice, generosity, patience, loyalty, and love. The poet’s method of beginning each tale with a thematic introduction and linking the stories through recurring refrains provides cohesion and reflects his mastery of literary conventions. The study establishes Majma’ ul-Axbor as both a continuation of the Khamsa tradition and an original response to earlier works, distinguished by Qasimiy’s creativity, rhetorical skill, and moral vision. The analysis underscores the epic’s cultural and historical significance, affirming its role in Uzbek literary heritage and emphasizing the need to further investigate underexplored figures like Qasimiy to enrich our understanding of the evolution of didactic poetry and national identity.