To Make Spirits Talk: Spiritualist Roots of A‘mâk-ı Hayâl, Mezâmîr-i Felsefeden İnsaniyete Veche Veren Büyük Ruhlar and Rü’ya

Abstract

Filibeli Ahmed Hilmi’s A‘mâk-ı Hayâl, Tahir Harîmî Balcıoğlu’s Mezâmîr-i Felsefeden
İnsaniyete Veche Veren Büyük Ruhlar, and Cafer Ergin’s Rü’ya have clear traces
of the thoughts of Allan Kardec, the founder of modern spiritualism. The influence of
spiritualism has resulted in the use of a common narrative style in these three works,
which is centered around the communication of great spirits through dreams. The most
important feature of this style of expression is that the spirits themselves tell the spirit and
the religious and philosophical content of the concept of spirit. A’mâk-ı Hayâl, which is
the most well-known among such works, is based on the spiritual experiences of Filibeli
Ahmed Hilmi, was initially hesitant about the existence of the soul, but eventually became
convinced through his experiences. Likewise, Tahir Harîmî wrote his work based on
a spiritual experience told to him. In this study, firstly, the spiritual events experienced by
Filibeli Ahmed Hilmi and Tahir Harîmî before they wrote their books are included and
the relationship of both authors with spiritualism is tried to be shown. The change of Filibeli
Ahmed Hilmi’s thoughts on the soul is revealed by utilizing his memoirs published
in Şehbal magazine titled “Eski Fikirler, Yeni Şekiller: Ulûm-ı Garîbe ve İspitirizma”, a
memoir published in Şehbal magazine. Later, the effect of The Spirits Books, written by
Allan Kardec, on three works mentioned was examined. This effect is examined under
the titles of the purpose of writing, spirit, dream and Prophet Muhammad emphasis and
examples taken from the works about these titles are given.