Islam and Science: An Analysis of the COVID-19 Fatwas Issued by the Diyanet

Yıl 2023, Sayı: 2, 67 - 87, 31.05.2023

Hatice Kubra Memis

Öz

Pandemics have had a profound impact on societies throughout history, affecting both the material and spiritual aspects of individuals and communities. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused temporary but significant societal changes, including its impact on economic, social and religious worship. One of these changes is the suspension of congregational worship due to the prioritization of public health. In Islam, the second largest religious group, there have also been temporary changes to congregational worship in line with the guidelines and precautions of health experts and scientists. These changes are important in showing the interaction between religion and science. This article aims to analyse the relationship between religion and science, specifically the interaction between Islam and science in this period, taking the COVID-19 period as a case study. To this end, it analyses how the fatwās issued by the High Board of Religious Affairs during the COVID-19 period align with the scientific decisions of the World Health Organization. Understanding this relationship is important because religious authorities have a significant influence on the population and can shape public opinion. Thus, this article aims to reveal the extent to which fatwā institutions utilize scientific data in their fatwās on novel issues arising during the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, it sheds light on the relationship between religion and science during the COVID-19 pandemic, with examples of fatwās issued by the High Board of Religious Affairs, the fatwa institution of the Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Turkey. In conclusion, the pandemic has demonstrated the necessity of a balanced approach to public health measures that takes into account both religious and medical measures. As pandemics have a profound impact on societies, the interaction between religion and science can play a guiding role in health crises and provide an important foundation for the well-being of society.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Religion, Science, Islam, Covid-19, Fatwās, Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet)

Teşekkür

I would like to express my gratitude to Hamdullah Baycar for his valuable contributions to this article.

İslam ve Bilim: Diyanet Tarafından Verilen COVID-19 Fetvaların İncelenmesi

Öz

Salgınlar tarihteki toplumlar üzerinde derin etkiler bırakmış, bireylerin ve toplulukların hem maddi hem de manevi yönlerini etkilemiştir. COVID-19 salgını, ekonomik, sosyal ve dini ibadetler üzerindeki etkisi de dahil olmak üzere, geçici toplumsal değişikliklere neden olmuştur. Bu değişikliklerden biri de toplu yapılan ibadetlerin toplum sağlığının öncelemesinden dolayı askıya alınmasıdır. İkinci büyük dini grup olan İslam’da da cemaatle yapılan ibadetlerde, sağlık uzmanlarının ve bilim insanlarının yönergeleri doğrultusunda ve önlemleri çerçevesinde geçici değişiklikler yapılmıştır. Yapılan bu geçici değişiklikler din ve bilim etkileşimini göstermesi açısından önemlidir. Bu makalede, din ile bilim arasındaki ilişki, COVID-19 dönemini örnek olay alarak, özellikle İslam ile bilimin bu dönemdeki etkileşimini analiz etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu amaçla, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı tarafından COVID-19 döneminde verilen fetvaların, Dünya Sağlık Örgütü’nün bilimsel kararlılarıyla uyumunu analiz etmektedir. Bu ilişkiyi anlamak önemlidir, çünkü dinî otoriteler nüfus üzerinde önemli bir etkiye sahiptir ve halkın düşüncesini şekillendirmektedirler. Dolayısıyla bu makalede, fetva kurumlarının COVID-19 sürecinde ortaya çıkan problemlere ilişkin fetvalarında bilimsel verilerden ne ölçüde faydalandıklarını ortaya koymak amaçlanmaktadır. Bu amaçla, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığın fetva kurumu olan Din İşleri Yüksek Kurulu tarafından verilen fetva örnekleriyle birlikte, COVID-19 salgını sırasındaki din ile bilim arasındaki ilişkiye ışık tutmaktadır. Sonuç olarak ise salgın hem dinî hem de tıbbi önlemleri dikkate alan dengeli bir yaklaşımın halk sağlığı önlemleri için gerekliliğini ortaya koymuştur. Salgınlar, toplumlar üzerinde derin etkiler bırakırken, din ve bilim arasındaki etkileşim, sağlık krizlerinde yönlendirici bir rol oynayabilir ve toplumun refahı için önemli bir dayanak oluşturabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Din, Bilim, Islam, Covid-19, Fetvalar, Türkiye Diyanet Işleri Başkanlığı

Kaynakça

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