How did Sufism influence early Uzbek and Central Asian poetry?

Sufism played a foundational role in shaping early Central Asian and Chagatai literature, which serves as the historical precursor to modern Uzbek literature. During the Timurid age, institutional Sufism became deeply integrated into the literary aesthetic, profoundly influencing the development of poetic forms and themes.1

Key influences include:

• Thematic Depth: Sufi ideas regarding divine love, mystical union, and the nature of God permeated poetry, providing a rich vocabulary and symbolic framework. Poets often used metaphors of profane love to express spiritual yearning, creating a characteristic ambiguity between worldly and divine themes.23
• Literary Integration: Influential figures like ‘Alī Shīr Navā’ī successfully incorporated theoretical Sufism into their work, producing emotionally expressive ghazals (lyric poems) and robā‘iyyāt (quatrains). Navā’ī also adapted the works of Persian Sufi masters, such as Farīd al-Dīn ‘Aṭṭār’s The Conference of the Birds, into the Chagatai language.12
• Didactic Purpose: Mystical-didactic poems, or masnawīs, were utilized to introduce readers to complex concepts of unity and love through allegories and parables.2
• Cultural Reach: By conveying mystical messages in the local Turkic language, Sufi poets helped deepen the spiritual concerns of the masses and played a vital role in the formation of regional literary traditions.23