Key words: martyr, concept, etymology, Turkic model of thought, Islam, Christianity
Summary
The article explores the historical development, etymology, and semantic aspects of the concept of “martyr” in different religious and cultural systems. It is demonstrated that, while originally referring to death in the name of faith and religious belief, the meaning of the concept has gradually expanded to encompass ideals of social service, national identity, and statehood. In the modern Turkic model of thought, particularly within the Azerbaijani context, martyrdom is regarded as the pinnacle of noble ideals and self-sacrifice. The study also provides a comparative analysis of the perception of martyrdom in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, concluding that the phenomenon carries a universal human value.
