Did you know that the Marmara Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi started as the İstanbul Yüksek İslam Enstitüsü in 1959? It first began its educational journey in the Fatih district. It was located in the İstanbul İmam-Hatip Okulu building.
After a period, the institution moved. It continued its educational activities for seven years. The location was the upper floor of the Namık Kemal Elementary School in Kabataş. In 1966, it moved to the Bağlarbaşı Campus. Then a significant transformation occurred. On July 20, 1982, the İstanbul Yüksek İslam Enstitüsü became the İlahiyat Fakültesi. It became affiliated with Marmara Üniversitesi.
Marmara Üniversitesi, named after the Sea of Marmara, officially became a university in 1982. But its roots go way back to 1883. That’s when it started as Hamidiye Ticaret Mekteb-i Âlisi. It was in a house in central Istanbul. What sets Marmara Üniversitesi apart? It offers courses in five languages. These are Turkish, English, German, French, and Arabic. This makes it the only multilingual university in Turkey. It operates across 13 campuses. It also has 11 institutes, 8 colleges, and 28 research centers.
Marmara Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi offers various undergraduate programs. These include Theology, International Theology, Theology in English, and Theology in Arabic. There is also a Teacher Training program. This is for Religion and Ethics courses in primary schools.
The Theology program aims to train specialists in religious disciplines. Courses are in Turkish and Arabic. There is a preparatory Arabic language class. Graduates gain a comprehensive knowledge of religious studies. They can critically evaluate Islamic intellectual heritage. Career options are diverse. They range from academic roles to teaching. They can also work in religious services.
A unique aspect of Marmara Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi is its mosque. The Marmara University Faculty of Theology Mosque was built as a culture center. Muharrem Hilmi Şenalp of Hassa Architecture designed it. Construction began in 2014 and finished in 2016. The mosque’s design reflects the Islamic concept of civilization. It is seen as only as strong as its parts. The mosque features lattice work concrete walls. These allow light to filter through. This creates a bright, airy space. A central dome dominates the structure. Its design is based on fractals.
Marmara Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi continues to evolve. It provides education and contributes to cultural understanding. Its history reflects Turkey’s educational and religious landscape. The integration of traditional Islamic studies with modern teaching methods makes it unique.