MUSLIMS OF DARURRAHAT (COMFORTABLE COUNTRY): IS AN URBAN UTOPIA?
DARÜRRAHAT (RAHAT ÜLKE) MÜSLÜMANLARI: KENT ÜTOPYASI MI?

Author : Bilge Kağan ŞAKACI
Number of pages : 1399-1420

Abstract

Utopia is “no place (outopia)” but also “a good place (eutopia)”. The word of utopia denotes “an impossible world where everyone admires to live”. İsmail Gaspıralı (1851-1914) was an ideologist, an author, a journalist, a publisher, an educator and a majör. Gaspirali’s work called Muslims of Darurrahat (Comfortable Country) was published in 1891 after the first issuance in Tercuman Newspaper as the continuation of Letters of Frengistan. In his book, of which the setting is Endulus, Gaspıralı exhibits an ideal of Muslim state through his leading character. The aim of this study is to argue whether Darurrahat is an utopia or not. In this context, following the articulation of the characteristics of the concept of utopia, “Muslims of Darurrahat” was examined. In this context; -It is a story. -It has a critical structure. -It is historical. -It is revolutionary and even destructive. -The ideal system is in a different location and spatially closed off. Its space is wide. -The visitor, delve into thought on both his and the old society’s underdevelopment. -The visitor returns to his own community (in a dream or as a nightmare) -It is an opinion that man is essentially good. -Rational living is open to everyone in modern utopia. -There is a belief that the future is predictable. -It has been emphasized that the main objective of utopia is the welfare of human beings on earth. -There is a fair management. -There has an equality. -There have philosopher managers. -Interior and exterior spaces are described in detail. -The common living areas are available. -It has given a big attention to education. Being a theoretical one, this study was based on primary resources. Besides, the secondary resources were referred to strengthen the argument.

Keywords

Utopia, Ismail Gaspıralı, Muslims of Darurrahat Endulus, urban

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