The Qurʾān Teaching Activities of Jaʿfarī Communities in Türkiye: An Analysis from the Perspective of Instructors

The objective of this paper is to ascertain the manner in which the Qurʾān teaching activities are conducted in Jaʿfarī communities that are part of the multicultural structure of Türkiye. The methodological approach of this study is a case study design. This study’s sample consists of nine instruct...

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Main Authors: Muhammet Yurtseven, Fatih Çınar, Yunus Emre Akbay, Alaeddin Tekin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Religions
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/4/424
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author Muhammet Yurtseven
Fatih Çınar
Yunus Emre Akbay
Alaeddin Tekin
author_facet Muhammet Yurtseven
Fatih Çınar
Yunus Emre Akbay
Alaeddin Tekin
author_sort Muhammet Yurtseven
collection DOAJ
description The objective of this paper is to ascertain the manner in which the Qurʾān teaching activities are conducted in Jaʿfarī communities that are part of the multicultural structure of Türkiye. The methodological approach of this study is a case study design. This study’s sample consists of nine instructors who voluntarily work in Qurʾān teaching centres for Jaʿfarī communities. Criterion sampling and maximum diversity were employed in the selection of the participants. The data were collected using a semi-structured interview form. The collected data were subjected to a descriptive analysis. This study’s findings are as follows: firstly, the importance of early childhood education in the transmission of the Qurʾān among the Jaʿfarīs is evident. Secondly, the basis of this teaching is the Alif-Baa Juz education. Thirdly, mosques, association centres and neighbourhood houses play an important role in this teaching activity. Finally, according to Qurʾān instructors, traditionally the mosques were the primary centres for Qurʾān education; however, this has been lost especially after the pandemic. In addition to having the knowledge and competency of the recitation of the Qurʾān, the instructors who are supposed to work in these places are required to behave in accordance with Islamic morality. Over the recent times, families have started to prioritise their children’s academic success over religious education. Lastly, Jaʿfarīs do not have any <i>safety concerns</i> pertaining to the state while carrying out religious education activities. The findings, in general, reveal that Jaʿfarīs have similarities with the traditional teaching of Qurʾān in terms of method, content, materials and to some extent instructor competence, etc. The results of this paper are significant in terms of providing a concrete indicator of the pluralistic understanding that Türkiye advocates in religious education policies and in understanding the religious education practices of Jaʿfarī communities.
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spelling doaj-art-4586cd8be50e403c9b531b68893a8f352025-08-20T02:18:04ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442025-03-0116442410.3390/rel16040424The Qurʾān Teaching Activities of Jaʿfarī Communities in Türkiye: An Analysis from the Perspective of InstructorsMuhammet Yurtseven0Fatih Çınar1Yunus Emre Akbay2Alaeddin Tekin3Faculty of Theology, Suleyman Demirel University, 32260 Isparta, TürkiyeFaculty of Education, Suleyman Demirel University, 32260 Isparta, TürkiyeFaculty of Theology, Suleyman Demirel University, 32260 Isparta, TürkiyeDepartment of History, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Social Sciences University of Ankara (ASBÜ), 06050 Ankara, TürkiyeThe objective of this paper is to ascertain the manner in which the Qurʾān teaching activities are conducted in Jaʿfarī communities that are part of the multicultural structure of Türkiye. The methodological approach of this study is a case study design. This study’s sample consists of nine instructors who voluntarily work in Qurʾān teaching centres for Jaʿfarī communities. Criterion sampling and maximum diversity were employed in the selection of the participants. The data were collected using a semi-structured interview form. The collected data were subjected to a descriptive analysis. This study’s findings are as follows: firstly, the importance of early childhood education in the transmission of the Qurʾān among the Jaʿfarīs is evident. Secondly, the basis of this teaching is the Alif-Baa Juz education. Thirdly, mosques, association centres and neighbourhood houses play an important role in this teaching activity. Finally, according to Qurʾān instructors, traditionally the mosques were the primary centres for Qurʾān education; however, this has been lost especially after the pandemic. In addition to having the knowledge and competency of the recitation of the Qurʾān, the instructors who are supposed to work in these places are required to behave in accordance with Islamic morality. Over the recent times, families have started to prioritise their children’s academic success over religious education. Lastly, Jaʿfarīs do not have any <i>safety concerns</i> pertaining to the state while carrying out religious education activities. The findings, in general, reveal that Jaʿfarīs have similarities with the traditional teaching of Qurʾān in terms of method, content, materials and to some extent instructor competence, etc. The results of this paper are significant in terms of providing a concrete indicator of the pluralistic understanding that Türkiye advocates in religious education policies and in understanding the religious education practices of Jaʿfarī communities.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/4/424teaching the holy QurʾānJaʿfarīs of Türkiyereligious educationdescriptive analysiscase study
spellingShingle Muhammet Yurtseven
Fatih Çınar
Yunus Emre Akbay
Alaeddin Tekin
The Qurʾān Teaching Activities of Jaʿfarī Communities in Türkiye: An Analysis from the Perspective of Instructors
Religions
teaching the holy Qurʾān
Jaʿfarīs of Türkiye
religious education
descriptive analysis
case study
title The Qurʾān Teaching Activities of Jaʿfarī Communities in Türkiye: An Analysis from the Perspective of Instructors
title_full The Qurʾān Teaching Activities of Jaʿfarī Communities in Türkiye: An Analysis from the Perspective of Instructors
title_fullStr The Qurʾān Teaching Activities of Jaʿfarī Communities in Türkiye: An Analysis from the Perspective of Instructors
title_full_unstemmed The Qurʾān Teaching Activities of Jaʿfarī Communities in Türkiye: An Analysis from the Perspective of Instructors
title_short The Qurʾān Teaching Activities of Jaʿfarī Communities in Türkiye: An Analysis from the Perspective of Instructors
title_sort qurʾan teaching activities of jaʿfari communities in turkiye an analysis from the perspective of instructors
topic teaching the holy Qurʾān
Jaʿfarīs of Türkiye
religious education
descriptive analysis
case study
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/4/424
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