Dr Suleyman Sertkaya

Suleyman Sertkaya graduated from the School of Divinity at University of Marmara, Istanbul in 2007. He pursued his MA in the Tafsir (exegesis) discipline of Islamic sciences, with a particular focus on the exegesis of the Qur’an. His thesis was titled An Analysis of Surah al-Kahf Based on the Subject-Based Qur’anic Exegesis Method which he completed in 2009. Suleyman completed his PhD thesis at Australian Catholic University on Sīrah genre.

Currently, he is a lecturer at CISAC (Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation). Suleyman’s major interests are: Sīrah of the Prophet (Biography of Prophet Muhammad) and Sīrah Philosophy, Interpretation of Islamic Sacred Texts, Tafsir (Exegesis of the Qur’an) and Hadīth (Prophetic Tradition) Disciplines, Islamic Theology, Comparative Theology, Radicalisation and Islam, Islam and Morality, Oral History, History of Islam and Muslims in Australia.

Suleyman is lecturing primarily on Classical Islamic Studies and particularly on sirah and hadith related subjects. His expertise includes Life of Prophet Muhammad, Philosophy of Prophet Muhammad’s Life, Prophetic Tradition and Exegesis of the Qur’an. Subjects he teaches include:

• ISL481- Philosophy of Prophet Muhammad's Life (Sīrah) 2016 -2019 , Charles Sturt University, (CISAC, Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation)
• ISL181- Sīrah (Life of Prophet Muhammad) 2016 - 2019, Charles Sturt University, (CISAC, Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation).
• ISL599- Guided Research Session 2016, Charles Sturt University, (CISAC, Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation).
• ISL232- Usul al-Hadith (Methodology of Prophetic Tradition) Session 2016-2018 , Charles Sturt University, (CISAC, Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation)
• ISL171- Akhlaq (Morality) and Adab (Manners in Islam) 2016, Charles Sturt University, (CISAC, Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation).
• ISL471- Islam: Morality and Etiquette in Daily Life, 2016-, Charles Sturt University, (CISAC, Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation).​
• ISL282 – History of Prophets: Adam to Jesus, Charles Sturt University, 2017-2019, (CISAC, Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation).​
• ISL591 – Interpreting Islamic Sacred Texts, 2017-2018, (CISAC, Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation).
• ISL333– Advanced Study of Hadith Literature 2017-2018, (CISAC, Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation).
• ISL411 – Methodology of Islamic Law (Usul al-Fiqh) 2018, (CISAC, Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation).
• ISL411 – Usul al-Fiqh (Methodology of Islamic Law) 2018, (CISAC, Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation).

Current Research Projects

Suleyman’s current research projects are on theological refutation of radicalisation and Australia’s Muslim Heritage. Followings are current research projects that he is undertaking:

• A Journey through Australia’s Muslim Heritage: The Life and Times of Sheik Fehmi Naji El-Imam
• Dr Abdul Khaliq Kazi: Professor, Mosqueteer & Australian Muslim Pioneer

Investigators:

Dr Suleyman Sertkaya (Chief investigator)

Ms Katy Nebhan (Co-Investigator and Research Officer)

• Refuting Theological Foundations of Radicalisation

Researchers:

Dr Hakan Coruh

Mr O. Atilla Ergi

Dr Suleyman Sertkaya

Primary outcome of this project will be an edited book. Suleyman completed a chapter for this project entitled “Is there a Foundation for Radicalism in Islam?”

Conference Paper Presentations

• “Prophetic Peacebuilding and Dialogue Methods: With Special Reference to Fethullah Gülen's Analysis of the Peace Treaty of al-Hudaybiya” International Theological Conference: Interfaith Dialogue Paths to Dialogue in Our Age, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne (26 - 29 May 2014).
• “The Notion of Fatānah (Prophetic Intellect) in Fethullah Gülen's Conceptual Repository of Prophethood” CAMEA Fifth International Conference: Ilm, Science, Religion and Art in Islam, The University of Adelaide, (20-23 July 2016).
• "The Place of Peace and War in the Practice of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)", Annual Convention of The Australian Universal Federation of Education and Culture (AUF), 26-30 September 2016, Sydney.
• “Is there a Foundation for Radicalism in the life (Sīrah) of the Prophet Muhammad?” 3rd Australasian Conference on Islam: Refuting the Theological Foundations of Violent Extremism and Radicalisation, Charles Sturt University and Deakin University, Melbourne (13-14 October 2016).
• "Reclaiming Our Humanity: Muhammad (pbuh) an Advocate of Human Rights & Freedoms", Risalah Symposium, Islamic Science and Research Academy, Saturday, 5 November 2016, Sydney.
• "Reclaiming Our Humanity: Muhammad (pbuh) an Advocate of Human Rights & Freedoms", Awards Night and Symposium, Islamic Science and Research Academy, Saturday, 19 November 2016, Melbourne.
• “A Comparative Approach to the Analysis of the Prophet Moses’ Speech Impediment in the Muslim and Judeo-Christian Traditions”, Asia-Pacific Conference on Comparative Theology, Australian Catholic University, 19-20 July 2017. Melbourne.
• “Freedom from Physical and Mental Defects (Salamah) as a Prophetic Attribute in the Qur’an: Special Reference to the Case of Prophet Moses”, Oxford Symposium on Religious Studies, 2-4 August 2017, Oxford.
• “A Prophetic Stand Against Violence: Muhammad the Prophet of Peace and Centrality of Peace as a Preferred Methodology in His Life” Things That Make for Peace, Charles Sturt Univesity, 7-9 March 2018, Sydney.