Umraniye Municipality Mayor Hasan Can talked about that Imam Maturidi has a place in Islamic World and his thoughts bringing the intelligence and free will into the prominence provide an insight into today’s world. He ended his speech with thanks to the participants and those who contributed to the symposium. Following, Rector of Marmara University Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, after pointing out the studies on Imam Maturidi and Maturidism that were neglected a long time gained momentum due to the scientifical activities such as thesis, articles and symposium, stated that it is aimed to reveal of the Imam Maturidi’s deep knowledge, his world of ideas, richness he add to islamic sciences and putting forward the impacts of them for the next generations by recognition and introduction of the Ta’wilat Al-Quran through the “International Symposium On Imam Maturidi and His Ta’wilat All- Quran”. Former Head of Religious Affairs Dr. Tayyar Altıkulaç mentioned that it needs to make a workshop with the aim to put Imam Maturidi’s commentary strength forward. Former Head of Religious Affairs Ali Bardakoğlu said that Imam Maturidi is one of the leading scholars in Islamic thoughts but who lived in 4th century, therefore it is not true to expect him to solve all problems of today’s world. Director of Center for Islamic Studies Prof. Dr. Raşit Küçük mentioned the importance of those studies on Maturidi. Prof. Dr. M. Sait Yazıcıoğlu said “Because we don’t know enough about Maturidi, the studies related to him carry great value”.
After the protocol speeches, the opening session started at the Imam Maturidi Hall, under the moderatorship of Prof. Dr. M. Saim Yeprem. He expresses all those studies should have a sence in practice meaning. Prof. Dr. Yusuf Şevki Yavuz , after underlying to Ma wara’un-nahr region,in which Imam Maturidi lived, within his presentation titled “ Ta’wilat Al-Quran and Its place In the Islamic World”, talked about his views on religion. In his presentation titled “ Imam Maturidi’s Position In the Subject of Mental Activities under Mind Control”, Dr. Mustafa Ceric emphasized that it is important for Imam Maturidi to use mind, and unfourtunately muslims are not giving enough attention to this matter. Following, Prof. Dr. Metin İzeti said he translated the “Kitabü’t Tevhid” into Albanian language and published it just now in his presentation titled “Theologies of the religions in the Imam Maturidi’s Ta’wilat”. In the end of opening session, Prof. Dr. Abdulhamid Aşşak stated it is needed to use the method of Imam Maturidi to solve today’s questions.
The symposium will last for two days with the paralel sessions to be held in two conference hall which academicians are able to make their presentation about a lot of topics such as tafsir, fiqh (Islamic law), kalam and kıraat that were handled by Imam Maturidi. It has been attended by 63 academicians from west countries, Malaysia, Turkic Republics and Africa.
