This department, examining Islamic history and civilization comprehensively with the disciplines it includes, aims at investigating different periods of the fifteen centuries-old Islamic history as well as its political, social, cultural, and artistic advancements with their sources. It includes four divisions:
- Prophetic Biography and Islamic History
- Turkish Religious Music
- Turkish-Islamic Literature
- History of Turkish-Islamic Arts
The Department of Prophetic Biography and Islamic History focuses on the historical development of Islam from its inception to the present day. Within this framework, it examines all aspects of the life of the Prophet Muhammad, the period of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and the Muslim states established thereafter, including the institutions, culture, and civilization of the Turkic-Islamic states.
The Divisionof Turkish Religious Music focuses on the forms and repertoire that have developed within the tradition of religious music. It examines the transformations and developments that have occurred throughout history, as well as theoretical studies in the field of music. Areas of research include the lives and works of composers, performers, and theorists, along with the role of music in both religious and social life.
The Division of Turkish-Islamic Literature centers on the literary tradition that began with the Turks' acceptance of Islam and developed under its influence. In courses on Turkish-Islamic Literature, which cover a literary heritage spanning approximately a thousand years, students study how Turks perceived, expressed, and practiced Islam, drawing directly from the primary sources.
The Division of the History of Turkish-Islamic Arts studies the works produced in architecture and the decorative arts such as calligraphy (hüsn-i hat), illumination (tezhip), marbling (ebru), miniature painting, and bookbinding (cilt). It examines the artistic production, philosophy, and styles across the Islamic world. The technical aspects, theoretical background, and current status of artistic activities spanning various periods and regions within Islamic cultural history are also explored.