The Justice and Development Party (AKP), the ruling political Islamists of Turkey since 2002, has been using the doctrine of necessity to legitimize human rights violations. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, president of Turkey, founder of the AKP and leader of the political Islamists, demands unconditional obedience and full control of the state. Under his leadership, the AKP government has shut down all opposing media, schools and universities and put thousands of people in prisons based on a manipulation of the necessity doctrine. In the political context, hardships are interpreted as obstacles in the way of the political Islamists holding absolute power in the state. Therefore, they use this "necessity" concept as a means to preserve their political power against all potential threats after taking full control of the state. According to the political Islamists, minority groups can be sacrificed for the benefit of the majority. Their properties can be usurped and their lives can be terminated. In moderate Islamic understanding, the state and the ruler are in the service of Muslims, not the other way around. For political Islamists, the state and the ruler (the caliph) are considered so sacred that they need to be protected against all opponents. In order to protect the state against internal and external "infidels" the caliph can resort to unlawful means because the necessity doctrine makes the forbidden things permissible. In this book, the author analyzes the concept of necessity and its exploitation by the political Islamists.

Starting in the mid-7th century CE, there have been various radical terrorist groups appearing in the Muslim majority communities that have interpreted the Qur'an and the Prophetic Traditions in very extreme ways in an attempt to justify their violence and mask their evil acts. As the title of the work, Terrorism and Violence in Islamic History from Beginning to Present and Theological Responses to the Arguments of Terrorist Groups suggests, it presents a brief history of violence and terrorism through the course of Islamic history and then provides a comprehensive theological response to the arguments of the extremist groups.In Chapter One, the author highlights the sanctity of human life and provides abundant evidence from the primary Islamic sources* the Qur'an and the Traditions of Prophet Muhammad, proving that it is strongly prohibited to kill human beings regardless of their ethnic, cultural or religious background. Condemning all evil acts of terrorists who violate God-given inalienable right to life, he asserts that it is not right to attribute terrorists to a certain religion or faith tradition, thus labeling their evil acts as "e;Islamic"e; or "e;Christian"e; terror.In Chapter Two, the author sheds light on the extreme sects appearing in Islamic history that have misinterpreted the primary Islamic sources to legitimize their violent extremism and terrorism. In Chapter Three, he provides the theological responses to refute the claims of these extremist terrorist groups, thus proving their sick, violent mentality on the basis of primary Islamic sources. In Chapter Four, he explains in great detail some of the key Islamic notions, such as struggling in the way of God and martyrdom, which have been exploited by the extremist terrorist groups.In the last chapter, the author discusses the necessity of mutual understanding and respect for the sacred as an alternative method to prevent radicalism and extremism. He argues that showing disrespect for the sacredness of Muslims causes radicalism in the Muslim world, and in turn this radicalism feeds Islamophobia in the West. He further puts forward that the international community should benefit from the ideas of the moderate Muslim scholars in order to combat terrorism effectively, using their compelling arguments to refute the violent arguments of the extremist groups.

This valuable work on the methodology of exegesis by Dr Recep Doğan will serve as an important measure for future works in this area. With his expertise in the history and exegesis of the Qur'an, as well as his familiarity and comprehensive understanding of Islamic disciplines, Dr Doğan has managed to combine both classical and modern acquis. Those who benefit from this study will witness a centuries-old tradition at the same time learning modern developments and formations. Dr Doğan displays a clear procedure for his readers with his method of explanation on the continuity of Quranic exegesis. He at all times maintains a serious balance and builds a meaningful bridge between the past and the present through the many examples he gives. Presenting a variety of different approaches, Dr Doğan also offers a broad range of Western approaches in reading the Qur'an. Western institutes that offer and those who receive education in the "Introduction to the Qur'an" or "Approaches to the Qur'an" will especially appreciate this work. It will also serve as reference to those who have an interest in the field or any Muslim who wants to deepen their understanding of their Muslim identity in the light of the Qur'an.

This book deals with the sources of Islamic jurisprudence and their importance in deducing the religious rulings. It covers the concept of ijtihād (independent reasoning), its conditions and application and illustrates why it is a practice for experts rather than laymen. It also explains the differences in the levels of expertise of the mujtahids. In fact, there are seven distinct classifications of mujtahid. The book also covers the communication of God as Lawgiver with regard to the conduct of liable persons. It details the difference in probative value of communication based on the extent to which it binds an individual be it absolutely binding, a recommendation or mere permissibility. The reader will be able to understand the difference between fiqh (law) and Usūl al-Fiqh (methodology of law). Fiqh is the law itself whereas Usūl al-Fiqh is the methodology utilized to extract the law. The relationship between the two disciplines resembles that of the rules of grammar to a language, or of logic to philosophy. Usūl al-Fiqh in this sense provides the standard criteria for the correct deduction of the rulings of fiqh from the sources of Shari'ah (the Qur'an and Sunnah).

This book explores the struggle and differences between the current governmental power, the AKP, and the Gülen movement, the leading civic Islamic movement, in Turkey. It discusses the history of relations between the AKP and the Gülen movement and analyzes the reasons that caused tensions and, eventually, a radical rupture between them. In order to help readers to better understand the difference between Political Islam and civil Islam, the project explains the political theology of each group and compares them to each other. The author explains the human rights violations, restrictions on the media and the destruction of democratic institutions in Erdogan’s New Turkey project. This is an ideal monograph for scholars interested in the Middle East, sociology, and political Islam.

This book explores the struggle and differences between the current governmental power, the AKP, and the Gülen movement, the leading civic Islamic movement, in Turkey. It discusses the history of relations between the AKP and the Gülen movement and analyzes the reasons that caused tensions and, eventually, a radical rupture between them. In order to help readers to better understand the difference between Political Islam and civil Islam, the project explains the political theology of each group and compares them to each other. The author explains the human rights violations, restrictions on the media and the destruction of democratic institutions in Erdogan’s New Turkey project. This is an ideal monograph for scholars interested in the Middle East, sociology, and political Islam.

The Justice and Development Party (AKP), the ruling political Islamists of Turkey since 2002, has been using the doctrine of necessity to legitimize human rights violations. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, president of Turkey, founder of the AKP and leader of the political Islamists, demands unconditional obedience and full control of the state. Under his leadership, the AKP government has shut down all opposing media, schools and universities and put thousands of people in prisons based on a manipulation of the necessity doctrine. In the political context, hardships are interpreted as obstacles in the way of the political Islamists holding absolute power in the state. Therefore, they use this "necessity" concept as a means to preserve their political power against all potential threats after taking full control of the state. According to the political Islamists, minority groups can be sacrificed for the benefit of the majority. Their properties can be usurped and their lives can be terminated. In moderate Islamic understanding, the state and the ruler are in the service of Muslims, not the other way around. For political Islamists, the state and the ruler (the caliph) are considered so sacred that they need to be protected against all opponents. In order to protect the state against internal and external "infidels" the caliph can resort to unlawful means because the necessity doctrine makes the forbidden things permissible. In this book, the author analyzes the concept of necessity and its exploitation by the political Islamists.

Starting in the mid-7th century CE, there have been various radical terrorist groups appearing in the Muslim majority communities that have interpreted the Qur'an and the Prophetic Traditions in very extreme ways in an attempt to justify their violence and mask their evil acts. As the title of the work, Terrorism and Violence in Islamic History from Beginning to Present and Theological Responses to the Arguments of Terrorist Groups suggests, it presents a brief history of violence and terrorism through the course of Islamic history and then provides a comprehensive theological response to the arguments of the extremist groups.In Chapter One, the author highlights the sanctity of human life and provides abundant evidence from the primary Islamic sources* the Qur'an and the Traditions of Prophet Muhammad, proving that it is strongly prohibited to kill human beings regardless of their ethnic, cultural or religious background. Condemning all evil acts of terrorists who violate God-given inalienable right to life, he asserts that it is not right to attribute terrorists to a certain religion or faith tradition, thus labeling their evil acts as "e;Islamic"e; or "e;Christian"e; terror.In Chapter Two, the author sheds light on the extreme sects appearing in Islamic history that have misinterpreted the primary Islamic sources to legitimize their violent extremism and terrorism. In Chapter Three, he provides the theological responses to refute the claims of these extremist terrorist groups, thus proving their sick, violent mentality on the basis of primary Islamic sources. In Chapter Four, he explains in great detail some of the key Islamic notions, such as struggling in the way of God and martyrdom, which have been exploited by the extremist terrorist groups.In the last chapter, the author discusses the necessity of mutual understanding and respect for the sacred as an alternative method to prevent radicalism and extremism. He argues that showing disrespect for the sacredness of Muslims causes radicalism in the Muslim world, and in turn this radicalism feeds Islamophobia in the West. He further puts forward that the international community should benefit from the ideas of the moderate Muslim scholars in order to combat terrorism effectively, using their compelling arguments to refute the violent arguments of the extremist groups.

This valuable work on the methodology of exegesis by Dr Recep Doğan will serve as an important measure for future works in this area. With his expertise in the history and exegesis of the Qur'an, as well as his familiarity and comprehensive understanding of Islamic disciplines, Dr Doğan has managed to combine both classical and modern acquis. Those who benefit from this study will witness a centuries-old tradition at the same time learning modern developments and formations. Dr Doğan displays a clear procedure for his readers with his method of explanation on the continuity of Quranic exegesis. He at all times maintains a serious balance and builds a meaningful bridge between the past and the present through the many examples he gives. Presenting a variety of different approaches, Dr Doğan also offers a broad range of Western approaches in reading the Qur'an. Western institutes that offer and those who receive education in the "Introduction to the Qur'an" or "Approaches to the Qur'an" will especially appreciate this work. It will also serve as reference to those who have an interest in the field or any Muslim who wants to deepen their understanding of their Muslim identity in the light of the Qur'an.

This book deals with the sources of Islamic jurisprudence and their importance in deducing the religious rulings. It covers the concept of ijtihād (independent reasoning), its conditions and application and illustrates why it is a practice for experts rather than laymen. It also explains the differences in the levels of expertise of the mujtahids. In fact, there are seven distinct classifications of mujtahid. The book also covers the communication of God as Lawgiver with regard to the conduct of liable persons. It details the difference in probative value of communication based on the extent to which it binds an individual be it absolutely binding, a recommendation or mere permissibility. The reader will be able to understand the difference between fiqh (law) and Usūl al-Fiqh (methodology of law). Fiqh is the law itself whereas Usūl al-Fiqh is the methodology utilized to extract the law. The relationship between the two disciplines resembles that of the rules of grammar to a language, or of logic to philosophy. Usūl al-Fiqh in this sense provides the standard criteria for the correct deduction of the rulings of fiqh from the sources of Shari'ah (the Qur'an and Sunnah).

This book explores the struggle and differences between the current governmental power, the AKP, and the Gülen movement, the leading civic Islamic movement, in Turkey. It discusses the history of relations between the AKP and the Gülen movement and analyzes the reasons that caused tensions and, eventually, a radical rupture between them. In order to help readers to better understand the difference between Political Islam and civil Islam, the project explains the political theology of each group and compares them to each other. The author explains the human rights violations, restrictions on the media and the destruction of democratic institutions in Erdogan’s New Turkey project. This is an ideal monograph for scholars interested in the Middle East, sociology, and political Islam.

This book explores the struggle and differences between the current governmental power, the AKP, and the Gülen movement, the leading civic Islamic movement, in Turkey. It discusses the history of relations between the AKP and the Gülen movement and analyzes the reasons that caused tensions and, eventually, a radical rupture between them. In order to help readers to better understand the difference between Political Islam and civil Islam, the project explains the political theology of each group and compares them to each other. The author explains the human rights violations, restrictions on the media and the destruction of democratic institutions in Erdogan’s New Turkey project. This is an ideal monograph for scholars interested in the Middle East, sociology, and political Islam.