AIM AND PURPOSE

Digital research in the field of theology has been ongoing for a considerable time. Researchers have long benefited from digital access tools such as ISAM databases and the Shamela library. However, over the past fifteen years, it has become evident that the new research methodologies of Digital Humanities have also influenced theological studies, and that digital tools are now being used throughout the entire research process, extending beyond mere access to sources (see Saraçoğlu, 2022 for detailed information). The growing number of Digital Humanities studies in theology is noteworthy. Each sub-discipline is progressively adapting to digitalization processes within the framework of its own theoretical and conceptual foundations.

Examples of research in the field include:

1. Akça, S., Uğur, Y., & Esringü, M. (2025). Osmanlıca Metinlerin Dijital/Otomatik Transkripsiyonu: Mevcut Durum ve Öneriler. Osmanlı Araştırmaları, 65(65), 351-364. https://doi.org/10.18589/oa.1719330

2. Ünal Şahin, A. E. (2025). Dijital Beşeri Bilimlerin Kur’an El Yazmalarına Uygulanabilirliği: Yöntemler, Uygulamalar ve Karşılaşılan Sorunlar. Tefsir Araştırmaları Dergisi, 9(1), 214-231.

3. Midilli, M. E. (2025). Dımaşk Eğitim Kurumlarının Hâmileri (11.-16. Yüzyıl): Vâkıf Tipolojisi ve Mekânsal Analiz. Sakarya Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, 27(1), 54-75.

4. Yalçın, M. F., & İşcan, Z. (2025). Text Analysis with ChatGPT: Mamluk Period an Example from the Year 815 (1412-1413). Artuklu Akademi, 12(1), 66-86.

5. Yıldırım, Tahsin. “Arapça Öğretiminde Yapay Zekâ’nın Rolü: Chatgpt Örneği”. Mizanü’l-Hak: İslami İlimler Dergisi 20 (Haziran 2025), 299-322.

6. Aykıt, Müzeyyen Asiye. “İslam Felsefesi Alanında Yapay Zekâ Modellerinin Değerlendirilmesi: Chatgpt–Google Bard”. Dinbilimleri Akademik Araştırma Dergisi 24/3 (Aralık 2024), 92-115.

7. Ünal, Sevim. “İbadetlerle İlgili Fetvalar ve Yapay Zekâ Uygulamaları: Karşılaştırmalı Bir Analiz”. Dinbilimleri Akademik Araştırma Dergisi 24/3 (Aralık 2024), 161-192.

8. Gelgeç, Sevim. “Yapay Zekâ Modellerinin Tefsir Tarihi Özelinde İncelenmesi”. Dinbilimleri Akademik Araştırma Dergisi 24/3 (Aralık 2024), 493-519.

9. Altun, Muhammed Latif. “Yapay Zekâ Üzerine Fıkhî Bir Analiz”. Dicle İlahiyat Dergisi 26/2 (Ocak 2024), 227-249.

10. Cançelik, Ali vd. “Chatgpt 4.0’ın Türk İslam Edebiyatı Metin Şerhinde Doğruluk Değerlendirmesi”. Dinbilimleri Akademik Araştırma Dergisi 24/3 (Aralık 2024), 69-91.

The transformation of texts into data, along with processes of data cleaning, analysis, and visualization, has significantly reshaped academic research practices, thereby making training in these areas increasingly necessary. Since courses based on Digital Humanities methodologies are not yet included in theology curricula, researchers often turn to various external platforms to acquire these skills. However, as most Digital Humanities tools are introduced for a general audience, there is a clear need for training programs tailored specifically to the field of theology.

The Digital Islamic Studies Training Programs(D-IS) were initiated to fill this gap. Participation is limited to graduate students in order to prioritize researchers who intend to employ these methods in their master’s theses, doctoral dissertations, and academic publications. In the coming years, it is planned to extend the training to undergraduate students as well. Another objective is to foster future collaborations by bringing together experienced project leaders and instructors who have long worked with these methodologies and researchers interested in the field.

The Digital Islamic Studies Training Programs(D-IS) Training is designed as a continuation of two previous programs organized under the TÜBİTAK 2237-A framework and focuses specifically on text analysis. In the first program, two significant text analysis platforms (KURAMER and KITAB) were introduced. However, rapid developments in digital text analysis—particularly the rise of AI-based technologies in theology over the past two years—have necessitated a new training program centered on these advancements.

Accordingly, DTR-3 begins with introductory lectures on Digital Humanities, artificial intelligence, social sciences, and digital theology research. This is followed by ethics training on AI use in accordance with the principles set forth by YÖK and TÜBİTAK. The program then proceeds to applied sessions covering topics such as the digital critical editing of manuscripts, AI-based literature review tools, automated text analysis platforms such as Voyant, GPT models developed specifically for theology, network analysis based on biographical data of Islamic scholars, and geographic analysis applications.

Subsequently, three projects supported by ISAM and TÜBİTAK will be introduced by their principal investigators, examining their contributions to the field and presenting their resulting websites and applications. This structure enables participants to discuss how to apply the tools learned during the training to their own research, as well as to address potential challenges and solutions with experienced scholars.

Beyond technical training, the program also opens a theoretical discussion on how each subfield adapts to digitalization. Text analysis fundamentally requires mastery of textual traditions: understanding the content, structure, and conceptual frameworks of classical works remains central to theological scholarship. Similarly, Digital Humanities constitutes a distinct conceptual and methodological universe. The primary aim of this training is therefore to question how theological texts can be reimagined in the digital sphere through new research questions, concepts, and relational frameworks. From manuscript format to data visualization, the intellectual journey of written sources—the foundational materials of Islamic studies—will be critically examined.

The training team consists of the following scholars:

Prof. Dr. Hasan Güçlü (Artificial Intelligence Engineering): An experienced educator in network analysis, programming languages, and artificial intelligence, who has previously delivered introductory AI courses in earlier programs. Within this project, he will provide training on machine learning and deep learning methodologies.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yunus Uğur (History/Digital Humanities): A pioneer of Digital Humanities research and projects in Turkey, particularly in Ottoman studies. He will deliver theoretical instruction on AI methodologies within Digital Humanities and conduct applied sessions on spatial analysis.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tuba Nur Umut (Theology/History of Philosophy): With training in both engineering and theology, she will offer lectures on artificial intelligence and ethics.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Harun Yılmaz (Theology/Islamic History): Known for his research on scholarly life and educational institutions in Damascus and Egypt (11th–16th centuries), he will present on the role and applicability of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in historical studies.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Fatih Yalçın (Theology/Islamic History): Specializing in the Mamluk period (1250–1517), he will provide training on the eScriptorium program for manuscript digitization and discuss social network analysis in biographical literature.

Dr. Gürzat Kami (History): Director of the ISAM-supported “Digital Ṭabaqāt” project, he will present the project’s digital infrastructure and methodology.

Dr. Ahmet Faruk Çelik (Theology/Islamic Law): Principal investigator of a TÜBİTAK-supported project applying AI models to comparative analysis of fatwa collections; he will discuss methodological outcomes and disciplinary contributions.

Dr. Elif Haksever (Theology/Hadith): Specializing in social network analysis of isnād data, she will offer four sessions on “Social Network Analysis with Gephi.”

Research Assistant Hamza Özen (Theology/Islamic Law): Specializing in AI prompt engineering for Arabic-based literature, corpus production, OCR processes, and database design tailored to theological research.

Research Assistant Yusuf Büyükyılmaz (Theology/Islamic History): Conducting doctoral research on text mining of Islamic biographical literature using large language models; he will lecture on digital databases and AI-supported literature research.