Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Faculty of Theology Islamic History and Arts Department, Islamic History Main Science Branch was established to conduct studies in the fields of Siyer and Islamic History, with the decision of the Council of Ministers numbered 2012/3961 published in the Official Gazette on Wednesday, December 5, 2012, along with the establishment of the Faculty of Theology.
Our main science branch brings the historical process that started with the creation of humanity to the present day and mainly focuses on the following topics:
In the Islamic History Main Science Branch, within the scope of the Siyer course, the birth, childhood, youth, prophethood, personality, biography, appearance, life, activities of the Islamic Prophet Hz. Muhammad (s.a.v) covering the years 571-632, and also their reflections on the present day are examined.
In the History of Prophets course, the lives of all prophets are examined comparatively with the Torah and the Bible, primarily based on the Qur'an and historical texts.
In the Islamic History course, the period of the Rightly Guided Caliphs covering the years 632-661, the Umayyad period covering the years 661-750, and the Abbasid period formed from the years 750-1258 are covered. From this period onwards, in the Seljuk History and Civilization and Ottoman History and Civilization courses, the History of the First Turkish Islamic States covering the years 751-1923, the Karakhanids, the Samanids, the Ghaznavids, the Great Seljuks, the Khwarazmians, and the Ottomans are focused on.
Additionally, in our courses, ways of utilizing primary sources are shown by reading examples from Arabic texts.
Our main science branch aims to research, teach, and disseminate the social and cultural aspects of Islamic Religious History and its contributions to these fields. In coordination with other scientific branches of our department, the main topics of approximately fourteen centuries of Islamic history are addressed, the religious, political, social events, and cultural developments that occurred throughout this history are examined comparatively, and comprehensive studies are conducted on Turkish history and civilization. In this context, research and education on Seljuk History and Civilization, Ottoman History and Civilization are also conducted. With this education, students gain a historical perspective within the framework of Turkish-Islamic culture, as well as the ability to read archival documents and distinguish the features of architectural heritage, the aesthetics of poetry, the richness of literary language, and the taste of music. In this regard, the vision of the Islamic History and Arts Department is to address Islamic history and civilization in all its aspects, and undergraduate studies are conducted within this framework, while preparations for postgraduate studies are ongoing. Active courses are given in the fields of Islamic History, Turkish-Islamic Literature, Ottoman Turkish, and Turkish Religious Music. Among our primary goals are to recruit qualified teaching staff for main science branches without faculty members, increase academic activities, establish a participatory and effective management, and open a thesis-based graduate program affiliated with the Institute of Social Sciences. In the department, courses, seminars, conferences, and panels are also held on the history and civilization of Turkish states as well as contemporary Islamic countries.
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Necati AYKON
Head of Islamic History Main Science Branch