DEPARTMENT OF BASIC ISLAMIC SCIENCES

Bayburt University Faculty of Theology, Department of Basic Islamic Sciences was opened with the decision of Higher Education Council dated 19.12.2012 and numbered B.08.6.YÖK.0.72-101.03-8119/55383.

In Faculties of Theology, departments are not units where students register and receive a diploma, but units consisting of departments with close scientific fields and research methods. In our faculty, there are three departments: Department of Basic Islamic Sciences, Department of Philosophy and Religious Sciences, Department of Islamic History and Arts. Our students have to take and pass the courses of all three departments.

The Department of Basic Islamic Sciences conducts scientific research in the fields of faith, worship, law, ethics, morality and mysticism of Islam in order to understand the Islamic Religion correctly and examines the Islamic scientific and cultural heritage with an academic understanding and based on the main sources, especially the Qur'an and Hadith. It tries to produce solutions to current religious problems that arise with today's developments by making use of new information and technological developments.

Our department, which adopts healthy religious knowledge education and training in various fields of Islamic thought as a basic principle, has six departments: Tafsir, Hadith, Islamic Law, Theology and History of Islamic Sects, Sufism, Arabic Language and Rhetoric.

Department of Tafsir

Tafsir is a department that analytically deals with the history of the Qur'an, which is the basic source of Islam, the literature that emerged as a result of the study of this source from different angles and can be gathered under the main title of ‘Qur'anic sciences’, the methods and methods of better understanding and interpretation of the Qur'an, and the accumulation of tafsir throughout history. The courses of this department aim to examine the historical process of the spelling of the Qur'an, the principles of reading the Qur'an correctly in theory and practice, the principles of interpreting it in a healthy way, the main topics covered by the Qur'an, the history of the formation and development of the science of tafsir in Muslim societies, the works formed during this process, the contemporary methods and problems of the science of tafsir, as well as the main Qur'anic researches carried out in today's Islamic world and orientalist scientific circles.

Department of Hadith

Hadith is the department that analyses the hadith texts, which constitute the written information and documents of the sunnah, which is the second basic source of the Islamic religion after the Holy Qur'an, in terms of sened, text and content within the framework of the rules of hadith methodology, taking into account the historical process it has undergone, and tries to make their current interpretations. It aims to reveal the hadith texts consisting of the Prophet's words, deeds and approvals in full authenticity by using the scientific aims, tools and methods of this field in order to base the examples of thought and behaviour that Muslims as individuals and societies will need in practical life on the authentic sunnah data.

Department of Islamic Law

Islamic Law is a science that reveals the provisions of religion related to practical life based on certain evidences and sources and thus enables the individual to know his religious rights and obligations. Although Islamic Law is basically based on divine revelation, it has also included human elements (ijtihad, public interest, customs, etc.) in its formation. At the same time, Islamic Law is a science that aims to determine the objective rules of Islam that are outside of its theological, conscientious and metaphysical aspects. Almost all of these objective rules directly or indirectly aim to protect people's lives, intellect, religious beliefs, property and honour, and try to bring the unchanging general principles of law such as human rights, freedom, equality and justice to the fore on the basis of theory and practice.

Since Islamic Law is not a part of the culture of a particular nation, it has been adopted by Turks as it has been adopted by many nations over time. Turks have practised Islamic Law for centuries and have been influenced by it in every aspect. The application of Islamic Law by the Turks for a long time creates the need for academic research in the field of Islamic Law in order to understand the history of Turkish culture and civilisation more accurately and realistically.
 

Department of Theology and History of Islamic Denominations

Theology is a science that deals with the supreme Being, i.e. Allah, His essential qualities in terms of existence and His relationship with beings outside Himself. With this structure, Kalam refers to the efforts to rationally justify the understanding of belief expressed by the concept of tawhid in the Qur'an in the theological reality that emerged with the Islamic revelation and other belief issues systematised as ‘divinity’, ‘prophethood’ and ‘mead’ of Islam.

The sect, which we can explain as the path followed by Muslims in theological and practical matters, has fulfilled important duties in the regular and effective realisation of the beliefs and practices of Muslims within a certain system. The developments that took place after Asr-ı saadet, the need to learn and live the beliefs and practices of Muslims in a correct and regular way with the influence of a number of social and cultural reasons have been effective in the formation of sects.

The History of Islamic Sects aims to inform Muslims about their different beliefs by examining the thoughts and movements that affect the formation of the principles of the sects in this process and investigating and teaching the ideas that have been accepted or discredited in the eyes of the society. The History of Islamic Sects sheds light on the causes of the problems experienced in the past regarding the different beliefs of Muslims and draws attention to the danger of unwarranted disputes and enmities. In this respect, the History of Islamic Sects analyses not only the differences in beliefs in the past, but also the belief and thought movements in the present.

Department of Sufism

Sufism is one of the basic Islamic sciences whose classical literature was largely completed in the third and fourth centuries of Hijri and whose field has emerged as Islamic ethics and piety. Under the roof of this department, topics such as the developmental stages of Sufism; its place in Islamic thought and its relationship with other sciences; major classical and modern literature; the contributions of Sufis to Islamic thought; lodges and dervish lodges as elements of social life; sects that have started to spread from the early period and their current situation are discussed.

History of Sufism examines the Sufi movements, which are a part of Turkish culture, from a historical perspective. In particular, this field presents the universal thoughts of Sufis such as Mevlana, Yȗnus Emre, Hacı Bektaş-ı Velî, who are considered the cornerstones of our culture, to today's people. Themes such as peace, love, brotherhood and tolerance, which are also addressed by the aforementioned Sufis, which are almost always in need of contemporary people, are processed and tried to be reflected in the religious life of the people of our country. On the other hand, scientific-academic researches are carried out on Sufism, which constitutes the spiritual aspect of religious life, and publications are published in order to prevent our people from falling into situations that contradict the basic values of religion. In addition, in this department, the phases of the Sufism phenomenon, which has been effective in all areas of Turkish culture and has affected our thought life in almost every field, are examined in the historical process and evaluated in terms of today. The studies carried out in this department are explained to young theologians and contribute to their learning religion and religious culture correctly and reaching healthy syntheses.

Department of Arabic Language and Rhetoric

The aim of the Department of Arabic Language and Rhetoric is to teach the Arabic language and its rhetorical features; to educate students who are knowledgeable about the history, culture and literary accumulation of the Arab world; who can follow the literary, political, social and economic developments in the Arab world from written and auditory sources, and who have the language skills to express their thoughts in written and oral ways.

The Department of Arabic Language and Rhetoric offers courses on Arabic Grammar, History of Arabic Literature, Translation from Arabic to Turkish and Turkish to Arabic. Examples of poetry and prose from various periods of Arabic Literature are discussed, essay writing essays are made, and students are also tried to gain the habit of speaking. In addition to classical texts, modem Arabic texts on various subjects are translated and Arabic terms and idioms are taught to the students.