Kastamonu University Faculty of Theology and Muhammad İhsan Oğuz Application and Research Center organized a conference titled “Ijtihad, Sect and Multi-Sectarianism in the Contemporary Period” with the participation of Prof. Dr. Kâşif Hamdi Okur, one of the lecturers of Hitit University Faculty of Theology, Department of Islamic Law, at the Faculty of Theology Conference Hall on May 2, 2024.
Our Rector, Prof. Dr Ahmet Hamdi Topal, Vice Rectors, Prof. Dr Mehmet Atalan and Muhammed İhsan Oğuz Foundation İhsan Oğuz Application and Research Center Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aykaç, Muhammed İhsan Oğuz Foundation Vice President M. İhsan Oğuz, academic staff and students attended the conference.
In the conference, Prof. Dr. Kâşif Hamdi Okur started the program by explaining the issue of sect and multi-sectarianism in Islam in a historical context.
Prof. Dr. Okur stated that although the issue of sect seems to be a special subject of jurisprudence, it is a subject that concerns every Muslim in some way, and explained what the contribution of sect to religion is as follows: “The practice we call sect is the name of the model that Islam has developed and adopted in order to live this religion in a healthy and consistent way.
Pointing out that there are different sects in different countries in different geographies, Prof. Dr. Okur said that when discussing the Muslim population of countries, sects such as Sunni, Shiite, and Hanafi are defined for the majority of the people, while in some countries there are populations that are not members of any sect.
“Consistency is essential in religion”
Mr. Okur stated that sects have an important place in how people living in different geographies will adapt to religious rules. He underlined that individuals belonging to one sect acting according to the sects of other individuals will create confusion in religion, which may harm religion. Okur emphasized that consistency is essential for continuing religious belief and that sects are necessary for this.
Prof. Dr. Okur stated that the diversity and different cultural contexts in the Islamic world contributed to the emergence and development of sects. He emphasized that this diversity is important for the richness of Islam.
He also stated that today's rapid changes and developments have created new problems and needs in the interpretation and application of religion.
In this context, he stated that ijtihad and sects are important for Islam to respond to contemporary needs and for the religion to adapt to the age.
The event ended with the presentation of a plaque to Prof. Dr. Kaşif Hamdi Okur and taking a souvenir photo.
