The Turks from Adam to Mongol Khan: An Epic of Rule and Continuity Across the Ages
The creation story of humanity, as narrated in Islam, commences with the Almighty Allah’s desire to create Adam. In this context, the Earth plays a crucial role as Gabriel is tasked with collecting its surface. However, even in this early phase, a wisdom is revealed, expressed by the Earth through a mimetic language. The Earth warns about the forthcoming generations of Adam’s children, the disbelievers, disobedient, hard-hearted, and sinful. This forewarning of future misbehavior leads the Earth to withhold its surface for the creation of Adam.
Gabriel, Michael, and Israfil are successively sent by Allah to convince the Earth, but all return with the same warnings. Finally, Azrael, also known as the Angel of Death, is dispatched by Allah. Despite the Earth’s pleas, Azrael decides that Allah’s command is superior to the Earth’s supplications. He collects the surface from the place where the Kaaba stands today, thus contributing to the creation of Adam.
It is significant that this mystical account not only describes the creation of humans but also emphasizes the Earth’s wisdom regarding future human actions. The Earth is depicted as a living being capable of foreseeing the consequences of human decisions and deeds.
The role of Azrael, the angel who retrieves souls from humans, is also emphasized. It is described how Allah, through His Almighty Word, makes a dough from the Earth’s surface and forms the image of a human. This image is then placed between Mecca and Taif, receiving a soul after thirty-nine days.
The narrative concludes with a reminder that Iblis, the Devil, refused to worship Adam. It is pointed out that Adam went to paradise and returned to this world from there. These parts of the story are intended to be regarded as clear and incontrovertible truths, akin to the clarity of the moon and the brightness of the sun.
In this context, the narrative reminds us that humanity has been confronted with decisions and consequences from the beginning, and even the Earth, as God’s creation, plays a role in this complex structure. The repeated use of the phrase “Turks from Adam to Mongol Khan” is intended to emphasize the continuity and complexity of this story and underscore its significance for understanding human existence.
The historical narrative about the ancestors of humanity, from Adam to the times of Mongol Khan, focuses on a comprehensive chronology marked by meaningful names such as Safi-ullah, Gibyat-ullah, Sadiq, and Malelel. The origin of the word “Adam” in this narrative is traced back to the Arabic word “adim,” signifying the Earth’s surface. Azrael, the Angel of Death, is said to have taken the fingernails from the Earth’s surface, leading to the naming of “Adam.” Adam is also referred to as Safi-ullah, indicating his purity and God-fearing nature.
Adam’s lifespan, spanning a thousand years, is considered an era establishing a direct connection between the physical world and an otherworldly reality. This narrative underscores the continuity of divine tradition, as Adam was succeeded by his son Seth, who, in turn, was appointed as a prophet. The significance of Seth, as the “Gift of God,” is emphasized, and he is referred to as Gibyat-ullah.
After Seth, Enos, who lived nine hundred and twelve years, received the title Sadiq (“Truthful”). The narrative highlights the importance of continuing Adam’s teachings through subsequent generations. Following Enos, his son Kainan assumed the spiritual leadership, continuing his father’s mission before eventually passing on to God.
The narrative continues its journey through the generations, with Malelel taking center stage. He played a crucial role in introducing urban concepts and taught people to build houses and villages. Malelel, who lived nine hundred and twenty years in this world, founded the city of Susa in the land of Babylon. His son Jared succeeded him, continuing the line of prophecy.
The transition from Jared to Enoch marks another stage of this historically rich narrative. Enoch continued the tradition of the forefathers and contributed to the transmission of divine teachings. The emphasis on names like Safi-ullah, Gibyat-ullah, and Sadiq gives the narrative a spiritual depth, while presenting Malelel and Jared as pioneers in civilizational development. This narrative illustrates the continuity of human history, stretching from Adam to the times of Mongol Khan, presenting a multifaceted panorama of human development.
The traditions of prophets in various cultures provide insight into deeply rooted spiritual traditions and belief systems. The story of Enoch, also known as Idris, constitutes a significant section in the prophetic sequence of humanity. The name “Enoch” has its origin in the Syriac word, while the Arabs refer to him as “Idris” due to his extensive knowledge in faith, philosophy, and healing arts, signifying “much-knowledgeable.”
The transfer of prophetic responsibility from Enoch to his son Methuselah underscores the continuity of divine guidance in this prophetic line. Methuselah, whose exact lifespan is not known, dedicated himself to the cause of justice and continued his father’s missionary tradition. After Methuselah’s passing, his son Lamech assumed the prophetic role.
Lamech, whose exact lifespan is not recorded, continued the spiritual mission as a prophet and eventually passed the message to his son Noah. The selection of Noah as a prophet by Allah marks a crucial turning point in human history. Allah called Noah to convince people to accept the religion for over seven hundred years, but only eighty men and women responded to his call.
The unpopularity of the divine message among people deeply upset Noah, and he prayed to Allah for their destruction. The response to his prayer came in the form of the Great Flood. The Archangel Gabriel announced that Allah intended to drown all people with water. This led to the instruction to build the Ark, a divine revelation that Noah and the believers put into action.
The Ark, built according to Allah’s instructions, became a refuge for Noah, his family, and representatives of every species. The water rose from the earth, and rain poured down from the sky. The Ark eventually landed on Mount Judah in the land of Syria near the city of Mosul. The timing of their entry into the Ark, on the first day of the month of Rajab, and their exit, on the tenth day of the month of Moharrem after six months and ten days, is anchored in religious traditions.
The recovery of Noah, his family, and the believers, along with the people’s return to Allah’s mercy, marks the end of this divine intervention. The epic narrative of Noah and the Great Flood contains essential lessons about obedience, faith, and the consequences of disregarding divine messages. In this prophetic tradition stretching from Enoch to Noah, the continuity of divine guidance that accompanies humanity through different ages is evident.
The prophetic tradition, spanning from Adam to the times of Mongol Khan, encompasses various epochs and geographical regions. After the flood, Noah, the prophet, sent his three sons – Ham, Shem, and Japheth – to different parts of the world to populate the land. These instructions to his sons mark a crucial moment in the spread of humanity across the Earth. Among these sons, Japheth is considered a central figure, and there are differing views on whether he should be regarded as a prophet.
Traditions state that, in accordance with his father’s instructions, Japheth explored the northern land and spent a considerable time there. Some designations even call him a prophet. In this context, Japheth lived on the banks of Idil and Yaik and had eight sons, including notable names like Turk, Hazar, Saclab, Rus, Ming, Chin, Kaimari, and Tarikh. These sons of Japheth laid the foundation for a flourishing lineage.
Turks from Adam to Mongol Khan, especially the descendants of Japheth, were blessed with an astonishing heritage. The eldest son, Turk, played a crucial role in the developmental phase of Turkish history. Japheth recognized Turk as a ruler and demanded obedience from his other sons. The history of the Turks was significantly shaped by the wisdom and education of these early rulers.
The founder of Turkey, Turk, was not only a wise man but also an innovator of entertaining dwellings. His contribution to shaping the lifestyle and customs of the Turks has been preserved in many traditions to this day. After his death, Turk passed the rule to his son Tutuk. Tutuk, a wise and wealthy king, introduced significant changes to the lives of the Turks.
One notable innovation by Tutuk was the introduction of salt in food preparation. This simple but significant discovery changed the culinary practices of the Turks and became part of their cultural identity. Tutuk lived for two hundred and forty years and then appointed his son Ilcha-khan as his successor. Tutuk’s death marked not only the end of an era but also the beginning of a new phase in the history of the Turks from Adam to Mongol Khan.
The dynastic succession of rulers from the Turks from Adam to Mongol Khan spans a wide range, with Ilcha-khan emerging as a significant ruler. His long reign characterized an era marked by political and cultural developments. Subsequently, Dib-bakui-khan assumed rulership, with his name possibly indicating symbolic significance, either a lower position or the position of the elder of the people. In his long reign, he experienced the joys of friendship and the tears of enemies.
Dib-bakuy’s era was characterized by a peaceful transition to his son Kiyuk-han. The transition of generations in the leadership of the Turks from Adam to Mongol Khan reflected the continuity of political power structures. This succession from one ruler to the next testifies to a certain stability within the rule structure.
Kiyuk-han implemented a just government and laid the foundation for the coming years. His successor, Alancha-khan, contributed to the development of the region. In Alancha Khan’s era, the yurt experienced improvement, and the prosperity of the people increased. However, this period also marked the emergence of practices such as the making of statues, leading to idolatry. This cultural development resulting from the loss of traditional rituals demonstrates the multifaceted dynamics within the society of the Turks from Adam to Mongol Khan.
Alancha Khan had twin sons, Tatar and Mongol, who would play a crucial role in later years. Dynastic divisions continued, and the brothers divided their father’s wealth. This period was characterized by prosperity and peace between the two brothers. The next section of this narrative will delve deeper into the history of the Tatars and Mongols to shed light on further developments in this fascinating chapter of the history of the Turks from Adam to Mongol Khan.
Tatar Khan and His Seven Successors
The line of rule of the Turks from Adam to Mongol Khan continues, with Tatar Khan and his seven successors at the center. Tatar Khan, who ruled the empire for many years, left behind a complex political context. His son, Buka-khan, followed in his father’s footsteps and continued the legacy. This transition from one generation to the next underscores the dynastic continuity and stability within the rule system of the Turks from Adam to Mongol Khan.
Ilindcha-Khan, the successor to Buka-khan, shaped the land through his rule over several years. His son, Atlii-khan, dedicated himself to a period of pleasure and enjoyed various joys of life before assuming rulership. This aspect of the rulers’ personal inclinations provides insight into the cultural and social dimension of their reigns.
Atsiz-khan, who stepped into his father’s shoes, waged wars with enemies and pursued the art of hunting. The close connection between military efforts and the rulers’ leisure activities paints a multifaceted picture of the society of that era. The subsequent ruler, Orda-khan, not only continued the cultural tradition of enjoying wine and Koumiz but also showed interest in making clothing from Chinese lumps.
Baidu-khan assumed rulership with an autocratic hand, but he was marked by imprudence and recklessness. This led to hostile conflicts with the successors of the Mongol Khan, resulting in a period of insecurity and tensions between the Mongolian and Tatar peoples.
The era of Suyunch Khan marked a dramatic turning point in the history of the Turks from Adam to Mongol Khan. The flames of enmity between the Mongolian and Tatar peoples flared up under his rule, and the political landscape was characterized by unrest and conflicts. The Mongols maintained their dominance, and the story of Suyunch Khan will be further illuminated in the upcoming narratives.
