Imam Maturidi and “Ta’wilat al-Qur’an”

The announcement of the quarantine in the country due to the “Covid-19” does not block the continuation of people’s daily lives and activities.

The situation with coronavirus in Uzbekistan was promtly taken under control. Necessary measures have been taken to eliminate the spread of the virus. Educational institutions were temporarily closed (training is being conducted online), social events were canceled, vehicle movements were stopped, wearing medical masks has become mandatory and etc.  

Despite such an epidemiologically difficult situation, the work of some enterprises, organizations and institutions did not stop.

In particular, the employees of our Center organizing their work in accordance with the instructions of the Special Commission and the quarantine requirements. They are taking systematic measures to ensure timely and high-quality implementation of annual plans and international agreements.

The international conference “Imam Abu Mansur Maturidi and the teaching of maturidia: past and present”, held in Samarkand on March 3-4 of this year, also opened up new opportunities for the researchers of the Center.

  Within the framework of the conference our Center interchanged information with the leading Islamic scholars of the world, and reached several important agreements. In particular, an agreement was reached with Yusuf Shawki Yavuz to hold a scientific seminar with the aim of exchanging experience in translating and commenting.  Yusuf Shawki Yavuz is a professor at the University of Marmara, a maturidiologist scholar, he is the author of the translation of the book “Ta’wilat al-Qur’an” into Turkish. Due to quarantine, this workshop was held on April 20 of this year online. Turkish scientist, employees of the Center, as well as more than 50 scientists and researchers from Uzbekistan were attended to this workshop.

Professor Yusuf Shawki Yavuz in his speech spoke about the translating process of “Ta’wilat al-Qur’an” into Turkish, about the faced challenges and the gained experience. According to the scientist, the scientific legacy of Maturidi for a long time remained beyond the interests of the Ulema and ordinary Muslims. Only changes in the political situation in the world at the beginning of the 20th century moved the interest into the works of the great scientist.

Yusuf Shawki Yavuz noted with an honor, that his translation process made it possible to rediscover the genius of the great scientist and renew public interest in him.

“At a period when Muslim countries showed great interest in science Islamic culture flourished and Muslims were able to build a strong and stable society. Later, over some period of time they lagged behind the West and there were even times when they followed him”. said the professor Yusuf Shavki Yavuz.

In his opinion, Islamic teaching was in great need of a rational approach that did not contradict the rules. Imam Maturidi’s “Ta’wilat al-Qur’an” handled with this task and become an important source and scientific foundation.

A Turkish scientist noted despite the fact “Ta’wilat al-Qur’an” refers to the comments, it also contains deep philosophical ideas and thoughts. In his opinion, it is impossible to comprehend the truth blindly following others, following ideas without understanding their potential.

In this regard, the professor marked out the correctness and timeliness of holding an international conference in Samarkand on the topic “Imam Abu Mansur Maturidi and the teaching of maturidia: past and present”, as well as the opening of centers of Imam Bukhari and Imam Tirmizi in Uzbekistan. 

In the continuation of the seminar, which was held in the form of an interesting session of questions and answers, the contribution of Imam Maturidi to Islamic science, the importance of studying the science of maturidology, the features of the translation of the book “Ta’wilat al-Qur’an” were comprehensively discussed.

The Seminar followed with an interesting session of questions and answers. During this session some issues, such as the contribution of Imam Maturidi to Islamic science, the importance of studying the science of maturidology, the features of the translation of the book “Ta’wilat al-Qur’an” were comprehensively discussed.

It is known that at the present time in our Center the translation of “Ta’wilat al-Qur’an” into the Uzbek language is being carried out. The Turkish scientist recommended to the translating staff be especially careful when working with Turkic, Arabic terminology, fiqh terminology, and also noted the importance of combining the work of a group of translators to show that the book was written by one person.

Based on the results of communication on both sides, further cooperation of the center’s staff with the faculty of the University of Marmara was supported.