THE YASSAWIYYA SUFI ORDER: HISTORICAL ROOTS, DOCTRINAL FOUNDATIONS, AND CIVILIZATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

Abstract

The Yassawiyya Sufi order represents one of the earliest institutionalized forms of Islamic mysticism among Turkic-speaking peoples of Central Asia. Established in the twelfth century by Khoja Ahmad Yassawi, the order played a crucial role in the Islamization process, moral education, and cultural consolidation of nomadic and semi-nomadic societies. This article explores the historical formation of the Yassawiyya order, its theological and ethical principles, its socio-cultural functions, and its long-term impact on Islamic civilization in Central Asia. The study argues that the Yassawiyya order served as a model of culturally embedded Islam that harmonized Sharia-based orthodoxy with local traditions.