Ahmet Murat Ozel
Ahmet Murat Özel is Professor in the Faculty of Islamic Sciences atIstanbul Medeniyet University and a distinguished scholar of Sufism, Islamicphilosophy, and Turkish literary culture. Combining academic scholarship withliterary creativity, his work explores the intellectual, ethical, and spiritualdimensions of Islamic mysticism and their continuing significance incontemporary life.
Professor Özel earned his doctorate in Islamic philosophy and Sufistudies from Selçuk University in Konya, one of the historic centers of Islamiclearning and spirituality in Türkiye. His academic formation reflects a deepengagement with both the philosophical and experiential dimensions of theIslamic tradition, particularly the rich heritage of Sufism. Prior to joiningIstanbul Medeniyet University, he taught Sufi thought and literature at IbnHaldun University.
A major focus of Professor Özel’s scholarship has been the study of NorthAfrican Sufism and its intellectual and spiritual traditions. His researchexamines the lives, teachings, and writings of influential Sufi masters,highlighting their contributions to Islamic spirituality, ethics, and socialthought. Through close engagement with classical texts, he has illuminated theways in which Sufi teachings shaped religious life and intellectual cultureacross the Muslim world.
Professor Özel has also made important contributions to the study ofTurkish Sufi literature and the broader literary heritage of Islamiccivilization. His work explores the relationship between poetry, spirituality,and self-cultivation, demonstrating how literary expression has served as avehicle for conveying spiritual insight and ethical wisdom. As both a scholarand a poet, he brings a unique sensitivity to the study of the literarydimensions of Islamic thought.
Among his major academic works are İbn Ataullah el-İskenderî: Hayatı,Eserleri, Görüşleri (2014), a study of the celebrated Egyptian Sufi masterIbn ʿAṭāʾ Allāh al-Iskandarī; Hikâyem Ne Tuhaftır: Ebu’l-Hasaneş-Şüşterî’nin Tasavvuf Anlayışı (2018), which examines the spiritualvision of the Andalusian-North African mystic al-Shushtarī; and TaşıTaşırmak: Bir Cami Risalesi (2023), a reflection on the spiritual andcultural significance of the mosque in Islamic civilization.
Beyond his academic work, Professor Özel is a prominent publicintellectual and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the monthly magazine Nihayet,where he contributes to discussions on literature, spirituality, culture, andcontemporary society. His essays and poems have earned him a wide readershipand established him as an important voice in contemporary Turkish intellectual life.
