Islam in Turkey

Islam in Turkey
Group	Islam in Turkey
Population	c. 90% of population
Regions	Throughout Turkey
Languages	Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic
Religions	Predominantly Sunni Islam (Hanafi), significant Alevi minority, smaller Shia and Sufi communities

Islam in Turkey. The history of the Islamic faith within the lands of modern Turkey is deeply intertwined with the rise and fall of empires, most notably the Ottoman Empire, which established Sunni Islam of the Hanafi school as a central pillar of state and society for centuries. Following the empire's collapse and the founding of the secular Republic of Turkey under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the relationship between religion and state was radically transformed, leading to a complex and evolving landscape. Today, while the vast majority of citizens are nominally Muslim, the practice, interpretation, and political role of Islam are subjects of continuous negotiation, reflecting a diverse spectrum from secularism to piety, and encompassing major denominations like Alevism alongside mainstream Sunni adherence.

History

The arrival of Islam began with early Arab incursions following the Muslim conquests in the 7th century, but its definitive establishment came with the westward expansion of the Seljuk Empire after the pivotal Battle of Manzikert in 1071. The subsequent Anatolian beyliks laid the groundwork for the Ottoman Empire, which from its foundation by Osman I embraced Islam as its dynastic ideology. Under sultans like Mehmed the Conqueror, who captured Constantinople in 1453, and Suleiman the Magnificent, the empire positioned itself as the preeminent Sunni Caliphate, with the Sultan also holding the title of Caliph. Key institutions like the Janissary corps and the millet system were organized along religious lines. The empire's decline in the 19th century saw reform attempts like the Tanzimat, but the ultimate collapse after World War I led to the Turkish War of Independence and the abolition of the Caliphate by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1924, marking the start of an assertive secular era.

Demographics and practice

Approximately 90% of Turkey's population is registered as Muslim, with the vast majority adhering to the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam. A significant and distinct minority, estimated between 10-20%, follows Alevism, a heterodox tradition with roots in Shia Islam and Sufism, incorporating elements of Anatolian folk culture. Smaller communities include Ja'fari Shiites, mostly concentrated near the border with Iran, and various Sufi orders, though these were officially banned after 1925. Levels of religious practice vary greatly by region, with more conservative observance often found in the central Anatolian heartland and the Black Sea Region, while major metropolitan centers like Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir exhibit more secular lifestyles. Regular attendance at Friday prayer is not as widespread as in some other Muslim-majority nations, reflecting the enduring influence of Kemalism.

Denominations and movements

The primary division is between the Sunni majority and the Alevi minority, with the latter's places of worship being cemevis rather than mosques. Within Sunni Islam, the state-sanctioned interpretation is managed by the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), which promotes a moderate Hanafi theology. However, several influential movements exist outside this official framework. The Nurcu movement, inspired by the writings of Said Nursî, emphasizes faith and modern science. The Gülen movement, led by Fethullah Gülen, grew into a powerful transnational network focused on education and interfaith dialogue before being designated a terrorist organization by the state after the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt. Other groups include conservative Islamist circles aligned with political parties and various clandestine Sufi tariqa like the Mevlevi Order, famous for the Whirling Dervishes.

Role in state and society

The principle of laicism, established by the Constitution of Turkey, mandates a strict separation of mosque and state, but in practice the state exerts significant control over organized religion through the Presidency of Religious Affairs. This state agency employs all imams, administers mosques, and issues religious guidance. The political role of Islam has been a central and contentious issue, with parties like the Welfare Party (Refah) being shut down by the Constitutional Court for violating secular principles. The rise of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since 2002 has represented a shift, with policies often described as promoting a "conservative democracy" and increasing the visibility of Islam in public life, exemplified by the reconversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020.

Religious institutions and education

The Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) is the paramount institution, with a vast budget and bureaucracy. It oversees the construction and maintenance of mosques, including iconic structures like the Sultan Ahmed Mosque and the newly built Çamlıca Mosque, one of the largest in the world. State-run religious education is provided through Imam Hatip schools, which were originally vocational schools for training clergy but expanded under the AKP into a broader alternative secondary school system. Higher Islamic scholarship is centered at Ankara University's Faculty of Divinity and Marmara University's Faculty of Theology. Independent theological discourse also occurs, though within limits set by the state. The Alevi community, not officially recognized as a distinct religious group by the Diyanet, runs its own cultural associations and cemevi.

Culture and expression

Islamic culture is deeply embedded in Turkey's artistic and architectural heritage, from the magnificent Ottoman mosques of Mimar Sinan, such as the Süleymaniye Mosque, to the intricate Islamic calligraphy and Iznik tiles adorning them. Classical Turkish music has strong roots in Sufi traditions, with the poetry of Rumi remaining profoundly influential. The Mevlevi Order's Sema ceremony is a recognized UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. In contemporary society, Islamic expression ranges from conservative fashion, including the widespread wearing of the headscarf (a symbol of political debate for decades), to Islamic-oriented media, publishing houses, and film festivals. Religious holidays like Ramadan and the Sugar Feast (Şeker Bayramı) are widely observed, blending religious ritual with deep-seated social customs.

Category:Islam in Turkey Category:Religion in Turkey Category:Islam by country