Islamic theology (Kelam) is one of the fundamental disciplines that systematizes Islamic beliefs with rational and transmitted proofs. Creedal education enables a Muslim to establish their faith on solid foundations, protect themselves from erroneous belief systems, and correctly understand the Qur'an and Sunnah. The Islamic theology texts taught at DİDAR Academy from the second year onwards offer a rich chain of sources, starting with Mâtürîdî's Kitābu't-Tawḥīd and extending to Teftâzânî's Sharḥ al-Aqāʾid. This systematic approach allows students to progressively deepen their knowledge of creed.
The primary source for Islamic theology education in the DİDAR curriculum is Imam Mâtürîdî's Kitābu't-Tawḥīd. This work is an important source that grounds the fundamental issues of Ahl al-Sunnah creed with rational proofs. Through Kitābu't-Tawḥīd, students learn core topics such as divine unity (tawḥīd), attributes, divine decree (qadar), and prophethood, while also grasping the methodology of Islamic theology. Nesefî's al-Aqāʾid, studied in the second term, presents creedal issues in a more concise and systematic framework. This text has been a fundamental source for creedal education in madrasas for centuries.
The discipline of reading texts in Islamic theology, like in other Islamic sciences at DİDAR, is supported by study and discussion. Students first silently examine the text, then read and discuss it under the guidance of an instructor, and finally share the topic with their peers in a discussion group. Creedal issues are sensitive matters; therefore, correctly understanding the proofs and fairly evaluating different views during text reading is of great importance. DİDAR's educational staff guides students through this process, ensuring that creedal education is conducted within the correct framework.
Teftâzânî's Sharḥ al-Aqāʾid, studied in the third and fourth years, represents the advanced stage of Islamic theology education. This commentary is one of the most comprehensive explanations of Nesefî's al-Aqāʾid and provides students with the opportunity to delve into the depths of creedal issues. Teftâzânî's work is also an excellent resource for learning the terminology and argumentative structure of Islamic theology. In the DİDAR curriculum, Islamic theology courses run parallel to Qur'anic exegesis (Tefsir) and Islamic jurisprudence (Fıkıh) courses; this allows students to correctly position the creedal dimension when reading a Qur'anic verse.
The relationship between Islamic theology and Qur'anic exegesis is an important reflection of DİDAR's holistic educational approach. Exegetical texts such as Rāzī's Mafātīḥ al-Ghayb extensively cover theological issues; a student without a background in Islamic theology would struggle to correctly understand these passages. The DİDAR curriculum anticipates this relationship by teaching Islamic theology and Qur'anic exegesis courses concurrently. Students grasp both the richness of narrative exegesis and the depth of creedal issues together.
Today, various translations and popular works on creed are in circulation. These can be useful at an introductory level; however, true depth is gained by directly reading classical Islamic theology texts. DİDAR Academy's emphasis on classical texts in Islamic theology education ensures that students base their creedal knowledge on reliable sources. Completing the Arabic preparatory period is a prerequisite for transitioning to Islamic theology texts, as these texts require proficiency in the Arabic language. The Mâtürîdî theological tradition, as the primary reference defining the creedal orientation of the DİDAR curriculum, is consistently brought up in discussion sessions.
Students studying in faculties of theology greatly benefit from DİDAR's creedal education in their faculty's Islamic theology courses. The experience of reading classical texts enables a deeper understanding of the issues encountered in faculty courses. Islamic theology courses conducted in the Kayseri, Istanbul, and Kocaeli branches offer flexible participation opportunities for both formal and distance education students. Weekly book analyses and academic seminars are also regularly held as extracurricular extensions of Islamic theology education.
In conclusion, Islamic theology is one of the fundamental pillars of Islamic sciences, and creedal education holds a central place in every Muslim's journey of knowledge. When the chain of sources extending from Mâtürîdî to Teftâzânî, the discipline of study and discussion, and an Arabic foundation come together, students gain a solid grounding in creed. DİDAR Academy offers young people reliable and in-depth Islamic theology education with this holistic approach through its four-year curriculum.