Religion (2)

The fact that Al-Ghazali won the struggle between his teachings and those of Averroes (Ibn Rushd) has been a defining factor in the destiny of the entire Islamic world.

The interpretation of religion through reason and science was rejected, and revelation was accepted as the sole and immutable source, paving the way for a conflict between religion and science. 

According to Al-Ghazali, science was a waste of time and contrary to God's will. 'The Quran was an ocean that encompassed everything.' Seeking knowledge and science outside the Quran was equivalent to defying God's command.

Thus, a similar imposition to the one made by the Church in Medieval Europe—that 'the Holy Bible contains all knowledge'—was made dominant in Islam through Al-Ghazali's teachings.

Muslim scientists, who were raised in the light of Islam and were influential in the European Enlightenment, gradually began to surrender their positions to mullahs and cadres far removed from scientific thought.

ULEMA

Ulema is the name given to the class of religious scholars in Islam. 

In the Ottoman Empire, the Ulema class had an organized structure under state control known as the 'Ilmiye.' It was headed by the Sheikh ul-Islam.

Their jurisdiction covered education and the judiciary. They were responsible for the correct implementation of Sharia.

The powers of the Sheikh ul-Islam took on a different dimension after the reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim. By being elevated to a position where they were responsible for overseeing both the religious and worldly affairs of the Sultans, the Sheikh ul-Islams attained a very high rank within the state hierarchy.

Just like the army of priests that increased the influence of the Papacy and the Church in Medieval Europe, it must be acknowledged that the Sheikh ul-Islams also possessed an army of Ulema and clergy that bolstered the power of their fatwas in society.

The fact that education in the Ottoman Empire was spread over a very narrow area, and that literacy was limited to the bureaucracy of the capital and minorities, made it easy to govern and direct society through beliefs for centuries.

It should also be considered normal that the general masses, who perceive religion along the axis of superstition, fear, and worship, are reactive to scientific developments.

The observatory established during the reign of Murad III in the Ottoman Empire is an example of this situation.

In 1574, an observatory was built on the hills of Tophane through the initiatives of an astronomer and mathematician named Taqi al-Din Muhammad ibn Ma'ruf. It was highly significant that it was simultaneous with the work being done in Europe. However, the plague epidemic and earthquake that began in those years created fear among the public. This fear was incited by reactionary factions, and the observatory was pointed to as the cause. 

Claims that those making observations were looking at the legs of angels became widespread.

Following this, a fatwa arrived from the Sheikh ul-Islam:

“Making observations brings bad luck. The dire consequences of audaciously trying to understand the secrets of the angels are very clear. In no land where observations have been made have things gone well, and the state structure has inevitably suffered an earthquake.”

Following the fatwa, the Observatory was destroyed in 1579 by cannon fire from the sea.

Superstition had defeated science. Science would bow to this captivity for many years.

Schools opened to provide scientific education would be closed, the Darülfünun would be shut down at times, its buildings would be set on fire at others, all modernization efforts would be undermined by reactionary rebellions and uprisings, reformist sultans would be deposed, and all kinds of evil and hatred in the name of religion would continue to take the stage for years to come.

 In the following years, the Ottoman Empire would follow a line consistent with the words of the Naqshbandi Order Sheikh, Marmaravi.

What had Marmaravi said?

LET REASON BELONG TO THE LAND OF THE FRANKS. THE OTTOMAN SULTANATE IS ENOUGH FOR US.

However, the exclusion of reason and science would also bring about the end of the Ottoman sultanate.

 The ulema class, by using religion to protect its own interests and power, would oppose all reforms and play a significant role in the collapse of the empire.

To hide religion from the public, it was first necessary to prevent the public's access to the Quran.

It was crucial for the public to learn their religion from its original source in order to combat bigotry. However, the Quran existed only as a manuscript and was in Arabic. Even for those who were literate, access to the Quran was very difficult and expensive. Even madrasa students did not have a copy of the Quran in their hands.

The first printing press in the Ottoman Empire was established during the reign of Ahmed III (1729). İbrahim Müteferrika was able to establish the first printing press exactly 277 years after Europe.

However, the printing of religious texts such as the Quran, Tafsir, Fiqh, and Kalam was prohibited.

146 years after the printing press was established, in 1871, permission was granted for the lithographic printing of the Quran. The first printed edition was finally produced in 1873. In other words, 423 years after the invention of the printing press, the Arabic Quran was finally being printed in the Ottoman Empire.

Undoubtedly, for the public, its meaning was nothing more than something to buy and hang on the wall. Because the Turkish public, with a literacy rate of 3-4% and no understanding of Arabic, would not be able to go beyond the sentimentality of a sacred harmony even if they read it.

In 1914, some verses were translated into Turkish. 

So, what happened? Sheikh ul-Islam Mustafa Sabri—the very person who issued a fatwa of death against Mustafa Kemal Pasha—roared...

"The common people do not possess the competence to understand the Quran. Only the Ulema can explain it to the people," he said.

Yet, had God not revealed the Quran so that the people could read it, understand it, and live according to it?

Was the first verse of the revelation not "Iqra," meaning "READ"?

In the Quran;

 "Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran that you might understand" (Yusuf 12).

"O Muhammad, We have made the Quran easy in your language so that they might take heed" (Ad-Dukhan 58). 

Was it not being written?

Atatürk ensured that a Turkish interpretation (tafsir) of the Quran was created and made accessible to the public. 

 Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır, who was identified as the most knowledgeable and reliable person, was commissioned for the task. He began the interpretation work in 1926. The 11-volume interpretation was completed and published in 1938. Atatürk provided financial support for the process of writing the interpretation. Subsequently, the Hadiths, which are the words of the Prophet and whose authenticity has been accepted, were published under the title 'Sahih-i Buhari'.

Thus, the religion of Islam was brought to the public in its purest, most accurate, and cleanest form.

Those religious merchants who wanted to keep religion under their own monopoly, derive their power from the mystery of the unknown, and maintain their hegemony through superstitions were rendered ineffective. 

With the adoption of secularism, religion was rescued from the monopoly of those who, for the sake of their own small power bases, produced hatred and discord, condemned people to ignorance, and fed faith with fear.   

Religious exploiters who lost their power continue to target Atatürk and persist in imposing the Arabic Quran to hinder social enlightenment.

Let us address those who define themselves as Nationalist-Turkists yet impose the Arabic Quran/Adhan with the words of Ziya Gökalp;

A country where the call to prayer is recited in Turkish in its mosques

The villager understands the meaning of the prayer in the namaz

A country where the Quran is read in Turkish in its schools

Young and old alike know the command of God

O son of the Turk, that is your homeland.

The facts are clear and plain;

 Atatürk not only liberated the Turkish homeland but also freed religion from the captivity of politics and superstition, and he trusted his nation enough to grant them the responsibility of living their faith within their own conscience and with understanding.

Unfortunately, religion has once again been taken captive by politics today. It will be in vain to expect Enlightenment before this captivity comes to an end.