Îsar

Origin

Îsar has been adopted into Turkish from the Arabic word îsār (ﺍﻳﺜﺎﺭ). The term derives from the Arabic verb eѕr, meaning “to offer, to honor; to choose.” It was widely used in Ottoman Turkish, both in religious and Sufi texts and in classical poetry.

Areas of Use

• Religious texts: In Islamic ethics and Sufi literature, it denotes the act of relinquishing one’s own rights to prioritize another.
• Sufi works: It expresses the virtue of subordinating the self to elevate others.
• Classical Turkish literature: In Divan poetry, it is used in both literal and metaphorical senses, particularly in the form “îsâr etmek.”
• Everyday language: Its use is limited and typically conveys the meaning of self-sacrifice or preferring others.