The Cradle of Islamic Civilization: Knowledge, Wisdom, and Spiritual Heritage in Turkistan

From their very inception, Islamic sciences have developed with the aim of accurately understanding, interpreting, and applying the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah to daily life. Core disciplines such as exegesis, hadith, jurisprudence, theology, and Sufism have formed the main elements of this tradition and have shaped the intellectual, philosophical, and spiritual structure of Islamic civilization. The geography of Turkistan holds a significant place in the development of this scholarly tradition. Cities such as Bukhara, Samarkand, Balkh, Herat, Nesef, Nishapur, Jurjan, and Ray have been among the leading centers of learning in the Islamic world, particularly since the Samanid Period. The madrasas, libraries, and scholarly circles established in these cities provided the conditions for the training of many scholars and the emergence of enduring works in various fields.

Turkistan, as an exceptional region where Islamic sciences flourished, played a decisive role in the development of both traditional and rational sciences. While disciplines such as exegesis, hadith, and jurisprudence acquired a systematic character in the region, theology and Sufism deepened along the axes of thought and spirituality; theoretical fields such as linguistics, logic, and philosophy, meanwhile, reinforced the methodological foundation of scholarly production. In this regard, Turkistan stands out as a significant cradle of civilization where science and wisdom developed hand in hand. The coexistence of different theological and intellectual schools in the region has been one of the most important dynamics of scholarly vitality. The debates conducted among the Ahl al-Sunnah, Mu‘tazilah, Shia, and other intellectual circles have contributed to the development of rational reasoning and critical thought. This pluralistic scholarly environment has laid the groundwork for both the deepening and diversification of Islamic sciences. Although the role of Turkistan in the history of Islamic science and thought has been addressed in various studies to date, the subject still requires large-scale, interdisciplinary research. In particular, the joint and comparative examination of the works of scholars who emerged from this region will make significant contributions to a more comprehensive and holistic understanding of the history of Islamic thought.

The special issue titled “The Cradle of Islamic Civilization: Science, Wisdom, and Spiritual Heritage in Turkistan” aims to contribute to the exploration of the scientific heritage centered in Turkistan. Within the scope of this special issue, scholars from the region, authored works, academic institutions, schools of thought, Sufi traditions, and Turkistan’s contributions to Islamic civilization will be examined, and it is open to original research in the fields of exegesis, hadith, fiqh, kalam, Sufism, Islamic philosophy, history of Islamic schools of thought, linguistic sciences, educational institutions, and cultural history. Studies that address Turkistan’s scientific and spiritual heritage with a holistic approach are expected to offer new contributions to the history of Islamic thought.

Special Issue Announcement Date: June 4, 2026

First Submission Deadline: June 15, 2026

Special Issue Publication Date: December 15, 2026

Languages of Publication: Turkish, Arabic, English.