Humour as a teaching method in Sufism: Studies based on the example of Hodja Nasreddin

The fictional character Hodja Nasreddin is widely known across much of the Eurasian region as a mischievous prankster. His anecdotes, which have been passed down for centuries in the Islamic world, convey, amongst other things, folk wisdom and social criticism in a humorous manner. At the same time, humour is also fundamental to Sufism, which, as one of the most important mystical movements within Islam, exerts a significant influence on the religious community. After all, humour has proven to be a useful outlet for critically questioning orthodox beliefs. The extent to which the 'Till Eulenspiegel of the Orient' himself has influenced Sufism and, by extension, the religious community has rarely been the focus of research to date. Yet the anecdotes about Hodja Nasreddin have long been used to disseminate Sufi teachings. This thesis therefore examines the particular interplay between Nasreddin and the Sufis, with the ultimate aim of highlighting a second, mystical layer within the anecdotes of the Anatolian prankster.