Ahmet Murat Ozel
Ahmet Murat Özel is Professor in the Faculty of Islamic Sciences at Istanbul Medeniyet University and a distinguished scholar of Sufism, Islamic philosophy, and Turkish literary culture. Combining academic scholarship with literary creativity, his work explores the intellectual, ethical, and spiritual dimensions of Islamic mysticism and their continuing significance in contemporary life.
Professor Özel earned his doctorate in Islamic philosophy and Sufi studies from Selçuk University in Konya, one of the historic centers of Islamic learning and spirituality in Türkiye. His academic formation reflects a deep engagement with both the philosophical and experiential dimensions of the Islamic tradition, particularly the rich heritage of Sufism. Prior to joining Istanbul Medeniyet University, he taught Sufi thought and literature at Ibn Haldun University.
A major focus of Professor Özel’s scholarship has been the study of North African Sufism and its intellectual and spiritual traditions. His research examines the lives, teachings, and writings of influential Sufi masters, highlighting their contributions to Islamic spirituality, ethics, and social thought. Through close engagement with classical texts, he has illuminated the ways in which Sufi teachings shaped religious life and intellectual culture across the Muslim world.
Professor Özel has also made important contributions to the study of Turkish Sufi literature and the broader literary heritage of Islamic civilization. His work explores the relationship between poetry, spirituality, and self-cultivation, demonstrating how literary expression has served as a vehicle for conveying spiritual insight and ethical wisdom. As both a scholar and a poet, he brings a unique sensitivity to the study of the literary dimensions of Islamic thought.
Among his major academic works are İbn Ataullah el-İskenderî: Hayatı, Eserleri, Görüşleri (2014), a study of the celebrated Egyptian Sufi master Ibn ʿAṭāʾ Allāh al-Iskandarī; Hikâyem Ne Tuhaftır: Ebu’l-Hasan eş-Şüşterî’nin Tasavvuf Anlayışı (2018), which examines the spiritual vision of the Andalusian-North African mystic al-Shushtarī; and Taşı Taşırmak: Bir Cami Risalesi (2023), a reflection on the spiritual and cultural significance of the mosque in Islamic civilization.
Beyond his academic work, Professor Özel is a prominent public intellectual and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the monthly magazine Nihayet, where he contributes to discussions on literature, spirituality, culture, and contemporary society. His essays and poems have earned him a wide readership and established him as an important voice in contemporary Turkish intellectual life.
