The two respected Turkiye scholars expressed gratitude to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who entrusted Arpaguş with the post of President of Religious Affairs after Erbaş successfully completed two terms. “It’s my pleasure in handing over this sublime trust to Sheikh Arpaguş,” Prof. Erbaş said.
Istanbul Mufti Prof. (Sheikh) Safi Arpaguş has been appointed as the new head of Türkiye’s Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet Işleri Başkanlığı), according to a decree published in the Official Gazette on Thursday.
Sheikh Arpaguş replaced Prof. Ali Erbaş, who has served as the country’s top religious official since 2017.
Muslim News gathered that the handover ceremony was held on Friday, September 19, in the conference hall of the Presidency of Religious Affairs.
Following the recitation of the Qur’an, Sheikh Arpaguş delivered an emotion-laden speech where he thanked Prof Erbaş, who has carried out his duty as the President of Religious Affairs with great devotion, sincerity and diligence, for eight years.
Sheikh Arpaguş stated that Prof Erbaş left a lasting mark on the institution’s memory and demonstrated an exemplary service approach by combining knowledge, experience, and diligence.
He added that the continuity and further advancement of these services will only be possible with the strong support of the institution’s employees.
Sheikh Arpaguş stated, “The duty undertaken by our Presidency of Religious Affairs is not merely an administrative task, but also a responsibility steeped in knowledge, wisdom, and scholarship. This institution, which guides our nation’s religious life under the light of the Quran and the Sunnah and guidance of our beloved Prophet, has been an exceptional pivot, reinforcing the unity, solidarity, and brotherhood of our society today, as it has throughout history.”
Sheikh Arpaguş explained that humanity, living in the age of information and technology, often does not use this to ensure goodness prevails on earth, but rather exploits it and takes steps far removed from information ethics.
“As knowledge is deprived of morality, humanity loses value. Many young people, deprived of the spirit of education and the meaning and purpose of knowledge, can be swept away by bigotry, violence, and terrorism. In this regard, the responsibility that falls upon all of us is to first and foremost pursue accurate information and reliable sources, acquire knowledge from competent hands, and then act upon what we learn. The ideal of a Turkish Century and a Terror-Free Turkey will come to life thanks to the efforts and endeavors of this institution and its devoted servants, whose slogan is ‘until goodness prevails on earth,” he said.
We have strived to take our organization to a better point in every field: Prof Erbaş
Prof Ali Erbaş, who handed over his duty, said that he had the pleasure of working at the Presidency of Religious Affairs for over 25 years, where he started working as an imam at the age of 19.
Prof Erbaş, explaining that he has strived to bring the life-giving principles and values of Islam to humanity throughout his tenure, said, “I believe we have accomplished great things with the valuable teachers we have worked with since the first day. We have been involved in many services, both domestically and internationally, from education and publishing to family and youth, from the construction of mosques to the revival of hearts. We have strived to take our organization to a better level in every field.”
Expressing his gratitude to President Erdoğan, who entrusted him with the post of President of Religious Affairs for two terms, Erbaş expressed his pleasure in handing over this sublime trust to Sheikh Arpaguş.
Prof Erbaş stated that religious service is not tied to any position, rank, or status, saying, “On the contrary, it is a requirement of our servitude and a way of life for us. Therefore, we must consider working in this field until our last breath an indispensable duty. I pray to God Almighty for mercy upon all our leaders who have served at the Presidency of Religious Affairs, one of the most important institutions in our country, from its inception to the present day, and who have passed away. I wish all our living heads of Religious Affairs a blessed, fruitful, and long life.”
Presidency of Religious Affairs employees attended the handover ceremony
Brief about Sheikh Arpaguş
Born in 1967 in Amasya’s Gümüşhacıköy district, Arpaguş completed his degree at Marmara University’s Faculty of Theology in 1990. He began his academic career as a research assistant in the university’s Department of Sufism in 1992.
He earned his master’s degree in 1994 with a thesis on Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi and completed his doctorate in 2001 on Mevlana’s methods of religious expression. Arpaguş also spent time in the United Kingdom between 2002 and 2003 and in Syria in 2010. He became an associate professor in 2008 and a full professor in 2014, continuing to teach at Marmara University.
Among his notable works are Mevlana and Islam: Perception and Expression, Spiritual Training in Mevlevi Order, Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi: Conversations, and multi-volume editions of classical Sufi commentaries.
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