The Banga Heq Magazine organized a special cultural and literary panel in the district of Cizre, Şırnak, under the theme “The Star of the Heavens of Love and Wisdom: Malā-yē Jazīrī,” celebrating the life, philosophy, and literary heritage of the great Kurdish poet and mystic scholar Malā-yē Jazīrī.

The event drew wide participation from across Türkiye, as well as from Iraqi Kurdistan and Iranian Kurdistan, reflecting the cross-border cultural influence of the 16th–17th century Sufi poet. Among the attendees were HÜDA PAR deputies Şahzade Demir and Serkan Ramanlı, who closely followed the panel discussions.

The program began with a recitation of the Holy Qur’an, followed by a greeting address from HÜDA PAR MP and Party Spokesperson Serkan Ramanlı, who expressed gratitude to Banga Heq Magazine for organizing the event.

“Malā-yē Jazīrī Enlightened Our Language and Spirit”

In his speech, Ramanlı emphasized the profound cultural and linguistic influence of Kurdish scholars and poets such as Malā-yē Jazīrī and Seyda Mele Mizgîn, stating: “O my brothers, as Seyda Mele Mizgîn said, through him our language has sounded beautiful to me since childhood. May God never take him away from us. We are very happy today to be with him, and God willing, we will benefit from him for decades to come. Our leaders, scholars, and learned ones — these great figures to whom we are guests today — have for centuries introduced us to love, affection, wisdom, and worship. Because their poems and writings stem from authenticity, we have known and preserved our language, and we continue to speak it.”

Ramanlı underlined that although contemporary Kurdish society may not be as diligent as their predecessors in preserving their language, the legacy of these scholars remains the foundation of their identity: “When we lean our backs on them, our backs will never hit the ground. Today our fate seems to have been written with war, conflict, and blood. Let us now listen to Malā-yē Jazīrī and our great sheikhs; let us become cupbearers who offer the water of life and the sherbet of love. Let us turn away from violence and bloodshed. God willing, these great figures will illuminate our path through our remembrance, faith, sincerity, and culture.”

Who Was Malā-yē Jazīrī?

Malā-yē Jazīrī (1570–1640), also known as Mulla Ahmad al-Jazīrī, was a renowned Kurdish poet, mystic, and philosopher from Cizre (Jazīrat ibn ʿUmar), located along the Tigris River in today’s Şırnak province. A contemporary of great Sufi thinkers, he is considered one of the most important figures in classical Kurdish literature and a leading representative of the Kurdish Hurufi and mystical poetic tradition.

His poetry, primarily written in Kurmancî Kurdish, blended deep metaphysical thought, Sufi symbolism, and divine love with a mastery of language and form. Malā-yē Jazīrī’s verses emphasized the unity of being (wahdat al-wujūd), the beauty of divine love, and the refinement of the soul. His works inspired generations of Kurdish intellectuals, poets, and religious scholars, and remain widely studied in both religious and literary circles across Kurdistan.

Preserving a Living Legacy

The Cizre panel highlighted that Malā-yē Jazīrī’s message of spiritual love, linguistic pride, and intellectual awakening continues to resonate deeply with the Kurdish people. Speakers emphasized that rediscovering his teachings offers not only a return to cultural authenticity but also a path away from division and violence toward unity, faith, and enlightenment.

As Ramanlı concluded:“If we follow the light of Malā-yē Jazīrī and our great scholars, our future will be built upon love, wisdom, and peace — not conflict and blood.”

The event ended with poetry recitations and reflections on the enduring influence of the Cizre-born mystic whose words continue to shape Kurdish spiritual and cultural identity. (ILKHA)