The Qur’ān and the Turkic World: Context and Interpretation
A Conference on
The Qur’ān and the Turkic World: Context and Interpretation
Wednesday, 5 February 2025 (Online)
The Qur’ān, the sacred scripture of Islam, profoundly impacts the culture, society and politics of the predominantly Muslim Turkic world. However, the interpretation and application of the Qur’ān varies depending on the historical, geographical and political context of each country. This online conference will analyse how the Qur’ān is understood and practiced in different communities of the Turkic world, and how it shapes their relationships with other regions and countries. This is an area of great potential regarding original research, at a time that the broader Turkic identity is strengthening, with chaos in neighbouring regions.
The Turkic world, whose majority population is Turkish in origin and speaks a Turkic language, has a valuable Islamic legacy and significant Muslim population, with Islam playing a pivotal role in shaping their cultural, social and political environments. The Qur’ān, as the primary source of Islamic jurisprudence and doctrine, has been a fundamental aspect of Muslim identity and spirituality for countless years. This conference will examine the correlation between the Qur’ān and Turkic nations, highlighting the contextual factors that impact its interpretation and implementation. It will explore how the Qur’ān has been translated, interpreted and applied in different historical and contemporary contexts of the Turkic world, such as Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and significant Turkic minorities in other states. Additionally, it will explain the significance and relevance of this topic in understanding the diversity and dynamics of Islamic thought and practice among Turkic peoples. In addition, this conference will critically examine the history, progression and practical application of the Qur’ān within diverse Turkic world contexts. It seeks to provide a detailed evaluation of the Qur’ān’s influence on political, social and cultural aspects of life across the Turkic world. Additionally, it will promote constructive and innovative dialogue among different perspectives and voices within the Turkic communities regarding the Qur’ān.
Finally, the predominantly Arab-centric approach in the academic study of tafsīr (Qur’ān interpretation) has led to a scarcity of literature delving into the variety of Qur’anic interpretations in other regions of the Muslim-majority world. In the Islamic intellectual tradition, there were certain major regions of Islamic knowledge and culture. These include, among others, Hijāz, Bilād al-Shām, Iran and Khorasan, Transoxiana and India. Particularly, Transoxiana and Central Asia were influential in the literature and scholarship of theology and law in connection with tafsīr,as a traditionally famous saying notes: “the Qur’ān was revealed in Mecca, recited in Egypt, written in Istanbul and interpreted in Samarqand”. In this context, our aim is to analyse the Qur’ān and its interpretation (tafsīr) in the Turkic world within the wider Islamic world context, particularly examining its connections to the Arab world and tafsīr literature.
Themes and Questions of the Research
This research seeks to elucidate the following topics.
Transmission and Translation of the Qur’ānic Text among the Turkic World
The Qur’ān’s Impact on the Development of Islamic Culture and Identity in the Turkic States
The Qur’ānic Interpretive Methodology (Hermeneutics) and Frameworks in the Turkic World
Guidelines for Papers
Prospective participants are requested to submit: (a) A short abstract (300-500 words) that outlines the aims, relevant literature, methodology and original contribution of the paper; and (b) A brief biography (max. 200 words) that includes the author’s academic background and research interests.
The selected papers will be published as an edited book after the conference via a reputable publisher. Based on the submitted papers, the edited book project might have two possible areas of focus:
Timeframe
Abstract submission and short bio due: 15 October 2024
Notification of accepted proposals: 30 October 2024
Announcement of final programme: 15 November 2024
For accepted proposals, extended abstract submission (1500 words) due: 15 January 2025
Senior Lecturer, Charles Sturt University
Postdoctoral Researcher, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Professorial Research Associate, SOAS University of London
For further information and to submit proposals: hcoruh@csu.edu.au