Islamic Practical Theology

A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2025) | Viewed by 5590

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Berliner Institut für Islamische Theologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
Interests: Islamic education and practical theology; religious education and its pedagogy; virtue ethics; Muslim women; comparative theology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The term practice is associated with multiple understandings: Practice as a pedagogical–theological field of action and application; practice as a synonym for the coherent practicing of religious norms in the form of rituals, ideal commandments and prohibitions; and practice as Lived Religion in contrast to the doctrine of norms and ethics. However, practice is so much more than the opposite of norm and theory, as a collective term for the diversity of lived religion or narrowly defined as the correct execution of religious practice.  In this Special Issue, scientific approaches and methods of practice research will find their place.

The aim of this issue could be

  • to provide a framework for what practical theology means;
  • to clearly highlight individual fields that require research into religious practice;
  • to identify and develop methods and approaches in the teaching of religious practice;
  • to name related disciplines to practical theology and their roles/relevance;
  • meaning of religious practice for the believers;
  • correlation between religious practice and character forming/shaping.

In the context of Islamic Practical Theology, the term “practice” encompasses a broad range of interpretations and applications. The Special Issue seeks to explore these various dimensions of practice, illustrating that it is more than just the opposite of norm and theory. It serves as a collective term that captures the rich diversity of lived religion, as well as the correct and meaningful execution of religious practices.

Additionally, the issue emphasizes the inclusion of scientific approaches and methods in practice research, showcasing how these methodologies can deepen the understanding of practice within Islamic theology. By integrating these approaches, the issue aims to provide a comprehensive view of how practice operates within the broader scope of Islamic faith, education, and community life, highlighting the intricate connections between belief, behavior, and identity.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200–300 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editor, or to the Assistant Editor Sandee Pan (sandee.pan@mdpi.com) of Religions. Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editor for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Tuba Işik
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • practical theology
  • religious practice
  • character forming

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 248 KB  
Article
The Determination of Halal Food Perceptions Among University Students Receiving Islamic Theology Education: The Case of Istanbul, Berlin, and Kuala Lumpur
by Tolga Çetinkaya
Religions 2025, 16(10), 1265; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16101265 - 2 Oct 2025
Abstract
This study investigates the perceptions of halal food among theology students from three culturally diverse cities: Istanbul, Berlin, and Kuala Lumpur. As individuals receiving formal religious education, theology students are expected to exhibit strong awareness of Islamic dietary principles. Utilizing a quantitative research [...] Read more.
This study investigates the perceptions of halal food among theology students from three culturally diverse cities: Istanbul, Berlin, and Kuala Lumpur. As individuals receiving formal religious education, theology students are expected to exhibit strong awareness of Islamic dietary principles. Utilizing a quantitative research design, data were collected from 210 participants via online surveys using validated Likert-type scales measuring halal awareness, halal literacy, religious commitment, social influence, perceived behavioral control, price value, hedonic motivation, and consumption habits. One-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests revealed significant differences between cities in nearly all variables. Students in Kuala Lumpur consistently demonstrated higher scores, indicating a stronger alignment with institutionalized halal systems and collectivist cultural norms. Berlin participants reported lower awareness and influence levels, likely reflecting a more secular and individualistic environment. Istanbul students fell between the two, showing strong religious motivation but less structural support. The findings highlight how halal food perceptions are shaped not only by individual religiosity but also by cultural, political, and economic contexts. This study contributes to the literature by offering a cross-cultural perspective on halal consumption and underscores the importance of integrating structural and cultural factors into religious food behavior research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Islamic Practical Theology)
17 pages, 304 KB  
Article
Chanting Ṣalawāt as a Form of Self-Cultivation
by Tuba Işık
Religions 2025, 16(9), 1104; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16091104 - 26 Aug 2025
Viewed by 548
Abstract
This article offers a descriptive analysis of a specific form (uṣūl) of prophetic eulogy (ṣalawāt) as vocally performed within Sufi orders such as the Rifāʿiyya, Qādiriyya, and Jarrahiyya of today’s Türkiye. It combines a music–theoretical and music–sociological [...] Read more.
This article offers a descriptive analysis of a specific form (uṣūl) of prophetic eulogy (ṣalawāt) as vocally performed within Sufi orders such as the Rifāʿiyya, Qādiriyya, and Jarrahiyya of today’s Türkiye. It combines a music–theoretical and music–sociological as well as ritual–theoretical perspective to examine how the structured performance of these chants functions both as a spiritual practice and as a means of social formation. Drawing on this dual perspective, the article analyses the underlying musical structures and elements of the ṣalawāt chant, such as melody, rhythm, harmony, modal frameworks, and dynamics. By examining how these formal aspects shape the aesthetic experience, emotional resonance, and theological significance of the eulogy, the study aims to highlight its performative and affective potential within Sufi devotional practice. Within the ritual framework of Sufi orders (ṭarīqa), this rhythmic and collective performance acts as a practice of tazkiya an-nafs (self-purification), cultivating attentiveness, moral refinement, and communal belonging through synchronized voice, breath, and bodily presence. The repeated invocation of the Prophet Muḥammad, venerated as the perfect human (al-insān al-kāmil), thus becomes a means of fostering inner transformation and spiritual proximity. In this way, ṣalawāt chanting mediates religious meaning not only through text but through embodied experience and performative devotion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Islamic Practical Theology)
18 pages, 326 KB  
Article
A Shelter for the Spirit: Ken‘ān Rifā‘ī’s Practical Theology and Adaptive Sufi Praxis in Early 20th-Century Istanbul
by Arzu Eylul Yalcinkaya
Religions 2025, 16(8), 1039; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16081039 - 12 Aug 2025
Viewed by 677
Abstract
This article examines the adaptive Sufi praxis of Ken‘ān Rifā‘ī (1867–1950) in early 20th-century Istanbul through the lens of practical theology. Navigating the political, social, and legal transformations of the late Ottoman and early Republican periods, Rifā‘ī sustained Sufi practices not by rigid [...] Read more.
This article examines the adaptive Sufi praxis of Ken‘ān Rifā‘ī (1867–1950) in early 20th-century Istanbul through the lens of practical theology. Navigating the political, social, and legal transformations of the late Ottoman and early Republican periods, Rifā‘ī sustained Sufi practices not by rigid institutional preservation but through a dynamic integration of spiritual tradition into the rhythms of urban modernity. His lodge, the Ümmü Ken‘ān Dergāh, functioned as a “moral commons”—simultaneously a site of devotional practice, social refuge, and ethical formation. Utilizing the frameworks of Don S. Browning’s fundamental practical theology, Elaine L. Graham’s emphasis on lived praxis, and John Swinton’s theology of qualitative reflection, this study explores how Rifā‘ī recontextualized classical Sufi rituals, ethical teachings, and communal hospitality to meet the needs of a rapidly secularizing and urbanizing society. Particular attention is given to his inclusive pedagogies, non-monetary ethos, integration of women as active participants, and the lodge’s role as a “shelter” amid widespread displacement, war, and social dislocation. By reading Rifā‘ī s practices as forms of contextual theology and lived religious adaptation, this article contributes to broader conversations on the resilience of spiritual communities under conditions of modern transformation, offering insights into how religious traditions may remain both rooted and responsive in times of profound societal change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Islamic Practical Theology)
20 pages, 267 KB  
Article
The Religious Lives of University Students: The Case of Turkey
by Elif Sobi and Mustafa Köylü
Religions 2025, 16(8), 1008; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16081008 - 4 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1181
Abstract
This study is a qualitative study conducted in order to examine the religious lives of students studying in different faculties of (x) University in the academic year 2024–2025 and to understand their perspectives on religious beliefs and practices. The research data were obtained [...] Read more.
This study is a qualitative study conducted in order to examine the religious lives of students studying in different faculties of (x) University in the academic year 2024–2025 and to understand their perspectives on religious beliefs and practices. The research data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with 20 students on a voluntary basis. In the study, students’ worship habits, such as prayer, fasting, reading the Qur’an, and praying, which can be considered as the basic worship practices of Islam, and the reflection of these habits on their lives were discussed. The data obtained show that the majority of the students attach importance to religious practices but have various difficulties in fulfilling these practices. In the study, it was determined that most of the participants evaluated prayer as a means of connecting with God, finding inner peace, and gaining a sense of responsibility, and fasting in the context of patience, self-training, empathy, and spiritual maturity. The majority of the participants embraced the Qur’an as the main source and sacred text of Islam, and they practiced reading the Qur’an in Arabic more than they practiced reading the translation. Praying was determined as the most common and continuous practice among the participants. As a result, it has been determined that although university youth do not have different results in terms of beliefs regarding worship, they do not show the same sensitivity in terms of practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Islamic Practical Theology)
27 pages, 5308 KB  
Article
Religious Healing in the Modern World: Faith, Culture, and Social Dynamics
by Figen Balamir and Selman Yılmaz
Religions 2025, 16(7), 883; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16070883 - 9 Jul 2025
Viewed by 1652
Abstract
Physical and mental health are fundamental human needs, yet modern medicine cannot always preserve them. At this point, alternative and complementary medical approaches sometimes offer significant contributions. In this context, religious healing stands out as a practice that plays a complementary role in [...] Read more.
Physical and mental health are fundamental human needs, yet modern medicine cannot always preserve them. At this point, alternative and complementary medical approaches sometimes offer significant contributions. In this context, religious healing stands out as a practice that plays a complementary role in many cultures and is frequently relied on, although it often faces criticism from the perspective of official religious doctrine. This study examines the phenomenon of “religious healing” from a sociological perspective. The provinces of Iğdır, Ağrı, and Erzurum, located in eastern Türkiye, were selected for the fieldwork. Interviews were conducted with 31 individuals who sought religious healing. The main purpose of this article is to understand the motivations of individuals who participate in such practices and how their healing experiences are transformed into religious experiences. The field data indicate that religious healing commonly involves practices such as recitation and blowing of the Qur’an, drinking blessed water, and the preparation of amulets. Feelings of helplessness and fear of social stigma are prominent in participants’ reasons for resorting to religious healers. The participants’ turn to healers can be seen as a defense mechanism, shifting blame to external forces like the evil eye, jinn, and magic, thereby reducing personal responsibility. Religion was instrumentalized to make the behavior of applying to a healer reasonable and acceptable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Islamic Practical Theology)
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