Halil İbrahim Yılmaz

Özet: Silah, insanlık tarihi boyunca savaşların en belirleyici unsurlarından biri olmuştur. Ancak silahı yalnızca askerî bir unsur olarak görmek, resmin önemli bir kısmını gözden kaçırmak demektir. İslâm’ın ortaya çıktığı milâdî yedinci yüzyılda Hz. Peygamber dönemi özelinde Arap Yarımadası’nda kullanılan savaş aletlerinin askerî ve sosyo-kültürel boyutunu ele alan bu tez, yakın dövüş silahları (kılıç ve mızrak) ile savunma teçhizatına (zırh, miğfer, tolga ve kalkan) odaklanmaktadır. Çalışmada başta siyer ve megâzî olmak üzere hadis, tarih, lügat vb. temel kaynaklar esas alınmış, imkân dâhilinde arkeolojik bulgular ve görsel sanat eserlerinden de istifade edilmiştir. Tezde tarihsel metin çözümlemesi ile maddî kültür yaklaşımı birlikte kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular, silah ve teçhizatın askerî işlevlerinin yanı sıra bu dönemde şöhret, itibar ve kutsiyet atfedilen maddî kültür unsurları olduğunu kanıtlamaktadır. Yarımadadaki üretimin yanında Hindistan’dan Bizans’a uzanan geniş bir coğrafyadan silah veya silah aksamının ithal edilmesi, yarımadanın dış etkilere açıklığını, Câhiliye’den tevarüs eden kullanım ise tarihsel sürekliliği göstermektedir. Bu silah ve teçhizata ilişkin terminoloji, bu silahların yapısı, türleri, imali, bakımı ve teminine dair bilgilerle birlikte değerlendirildiğinde, bölgedeki askerî donanımın gelişmiş bir teknik seviyeye sahip olduğu anlaşılmaktadır. Savaş düzeninde sırasıyla ok, mızrak ve kılıç silsilesiyle kullanılan bu silahlar, barış zamanında ve gündelik hayatta sütre, alem, gösteri aracı, ekonomik değer ve ritüel eşya olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Bu yönleriyle çalışma, siyer ve megâzî literatüründe çoğu zaman tali bir unsur olarak ele alınan silah meselesini merkeze çekmekte ve rivayetleri olay merkezli değil, nesne merkezli bir bakışla yeniden okuyarak Hz. Peygamber dönemi Arap toplumunun yakın dövüş silahları ve savunma teçhizatı özelinde savaş kültürüne dair daha somut ve derli toplu bir çerçeve sunmaktadır. Abstract: Weapons have remained one of the most decisive elements of warfare throughout human history. However, to perceive weaponry solely as a military component is to overlook a significant dimension of the historical reality. Focusing on the seventh century AD—the era of the Prophet Muhammad—this dissertation investigates the military and socio-cultural dimensions of the combat equipment utilized in the Arabian Peninsula, specifically concentrating on close-combat weapons (swords and spears) and defensive gear (armour, helmets, mail coifs, and shields). The study primarily relies on sīra and maghāzī literature alongside hadith, historical, lexicographical, and geographical sources, while also incorporating archaeological data and visual materials where feasible. Methodologically, the research integrates historical textual analysis with a material culture approach. The findings demonstrate that during this period, weaponry served not only as a fundamental instrument of warfare but also as a symbol of prestige and status, and in certain instances, as tangible objects imbued with sanctity. Alongside equipment manufactured within the Peninsula, the importation and use of various arms and components from a vast geography stretching from India to Byzantium highlight the region's receptiveness to external influences. Furthermore, the persistent utilization of numerous weapon types from the pre-Islamic period into the Prophet’s conflicts indicates a martial structure characterized by both historical continuity and external integration. When the terminology surrounding swords, spears, armour, and shields is evaluated alongside data regarding their structure, manufacture, maintenance, and procurement, it becomes evident that the regional military hardware possessed a more advanced technical level than commonly presumed. The sequential nature of combat—typically occurring in stages of archery, spears, and swords—elucidates the functional roles of offensive and defensive equipment within the battle order. Moreover, the use of these same items in peacetime as sutra (prayer screens), standards, ceremonial objects, economic assets, and ritual artefacts demonstrates their multifaceted functions extending beyond the battlefield. By centering the issue of weaponry, which is often treated as a peripheral element in sīra and maghāzī literature, this study reinterprets classical narratives through an object-centred rather than an event-centred lens, providing a more concrete and systematic framework of the warfare culture in the society of the Prophet’s period.

Elinizde bulunan kitap, İslam öncesi Cahiliye Dönemi’nden 20. yy.’a kadar olan zaman aralığında Arap Yarımadası’nda bulunan tarihçileri, tarih kaynaklarını ve tarihyazımını inceleyen bir çalışmadır. Arap Yarımadası’na dair olan bu eser, ele alınan görece uzun ve alt dönemlere ayırılan asırlara ilişkin ağırlıklı olarak eleştirel bir bibliyografya ve belirli ölçüde tarihyazımı tartışmalarını içeriyor. Bu amaçla kitapta, İslam Öncesi Hicaz ve Yemen Tarihçileri, Tarih Kaynakları ve Tarihyazımı, Câhiliye Şiirinin Kaynakları ve İslâm Tarihi Çalışmalarında Kullanımı, Güney Arabistan Yazıtlarının Tarihsel Gelişimi ve Temel Özellikleri konuları ele alınmıştır. İslami Dönemde ise Hicaz’da ve Yemen’de Hz. Peygamber (622-632), Hülefây-i Raşidin (632-661), Emeviler (662-750), Abbasiler (750-1258), Memlükler (1258-1517) Dönemi; Yemen’de Ziyâdîler (818-1071), Ya‘furîler (861-997), Zeydîler (997-1098), Necâhîler (1021-1159), Suleyhîler (1031-1138), Hemdânîler (1098-1174), Mehdîler (1159-1174), Zürey’îler (1080-1175), Eyyûbîler (1174-1229), Resûlîler (1229-1454), Tâhirîler (1454-1517) ve Osmanlı Hâkimiyet Dönemi (1538-1918) Hicaz ve Yemen tarih kaynakları izah edilmiştir. Kitapta Arap Yarımadası’nın dönemlerinden her birinin kaynakları, o dönemde ihtisaslaşmış ve çeşitli eserler vermiş tarihçiler tarafından incelenmiştir. Alana yeni giren öğrenciler, özellikle lisansüstü düzeyde olanlar kadar alanın uzmanları için de faydalı olacak bu eser, konunun ilgililerine her bir dönemin tarih kaynaklarına dair bilgi ve analiz sunmakta ve dönemler arasında tarih kaynaklarının ve tarihyazım dinamiklerinin, perspektiflerinin ve elbette kaynak türlerinin nasıl değiştiğini yahut devamlılık arz ettiğini görme imkanı sunmaktadır.

African Studies grapple with numerous structural issues, including epistemic inequalities, power dynamics, and marginalisation in knowledge production. This study aims to examine the root causes and dimensions of these imbalances by analysing bibliometric data from the journal Africa Spectrum between 2009 and 2023, using it as a case study to explore broader trends and challenges in African Studies. It highlights critical inequalities, such as the limited representation of Africa-centred perspectives, the low visibility of women authors, and the thematic focus of the literature on Western-centric topics. Data sourced from the Scopus database were analysed using tools like VOSviewer and Excel, focusing on author profiles, citation patterns, keywords, countries, institutions, and funding structures. The findings reveal that only 32% of the authors are African, women authors represent a mere 27%, and the literature predominantly revolves around Western-centric themes such as crisis, conflict, and governance. Additionally, the dominance of Western-based institutions and funding sources underscores the continued dependency of Africa-centred knowledge production on external factors. These results emphasise the historical reproduction of power imbalances within African Studies, constraining Africa’s intellectual autonomy. By critically analysing the structural issues in African Studies, this study highlights the necessity for more inclusive and Africa-centred knowledge production processes.

Özet. Tezimizin konusu, Belâzürî'nin (ö. 279/892-93) Fütûhu'l-Büldân adlı eserindeki rivayetler çerçevesinde günümüzde Suriye, Ürdün, Filistin, Lübnan ve Türkiye'nin güney sınırlarının bir kısmını içine alan Şâm bölgesinde Müslümanlar tarafından gerçekleştirilen fetihlerin incelenmesidir. Giriş bölümünde çalışmanın konusu, önemi, kapsamı, yöntemi ele alınmış, konunun kaynakları değerlendirilmiştir. Birinci bölümde Belâzürî'nin hayatı ve eserleri hakkında bilgi verildikten sonra fetih tarihçiliğine dair birtakım tespit ve değerlendirmelerde bulunulmuştur. İkinci bölümde ise öncelikle Şâm bölgesinin, Belâzürî ve diğer coğrafyacılara göre sınırları mukayeseli olarak incelenmiştir. Ardından tezin asıl konusunu teşkil eden Şâm bölgesindeki fetihlerin Belâzürî'ye göre nasıl ele alındığı incelenmiştir. Bu bölümde konuyla ilgili rivayetlerin tespiti ve bunların değerlendirilmesi yapılmıştır. Sonuç kısmında ise çalışmanın kısa bir özetinin ardından, birtakım değerlendirmeler yapılmış, konunun problemlerine değinilmiş ve bazı öneriler sunulmuştur. Tezin son kısmındaki ekler bölümünde ise tezin anlaşılır olmasını sağlamak adına bazı tablolar ve listeler eklenmiştir. Abstract. The subject of the dissertation is the examination of conquests of al-Shām, which covers the territories Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon and some parts of the southeast border of Turkey today, by Muslims within the frame of the narrations in the book "Futūh al-Buldān" by al-Balādhurī (d. 279/892-93). In the introduction part, the subject of study, its importance, its scope and method have been discussed as well as the sources of the study have been evaluated. In the first chapter, after giving a brief information about the life and works of al-Balādhurī, some determinations and evaluations on his conquest historiography have been conducted as well. In the second chapter, firstly, the boundaries of the al-Shām (Greater Syria) region have been examined by comparing the views of al-Balādhurī and other geographers. Then, the main theme of the thesis, which is the conquests in the al-Shām region with reference to al-Balādhurī, has been examined. In this section, the narrations related to the topic have been identified and evaluated. In the conclusion part, after giving a short summary of the study, some evaluations have been conducted, and the problems of the subject have been mentioned, and some suggestions have been presented. At the end of the thesis, in the appendices part, some tables and lists have been provided to ensure the dissertation more understandable.

Muslims captured vast lands following the early conquests by the Prophet and first caliphs, extending their control beyond the Arabian Peninsula. They accommodated the local social, administrative, and cultural heritage in order to take control over the region. Just like all civilizational “interactions,” certain practices remained similar to their earlier instantiations. One of these practices was the system ofjund, which was applied following the conquest of Bilād al-Shām (Greater Syria).Jund (pl. ajnād), literally meaning “army—military districts,” described militaryadministrative districts established in Bilād al-Shām (a region covering Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon and southern Turkey) in early Islamic history. Looking at administrative reforms in Bilād al-Shām before the Islamic conquests, the system initiated by Roman Emperor Diocletian (284-305) prevailed in the east of the empire until the 6th century. This administrative structure, also calledDioecesis Orientis (Eastern Provinces) and made up of eleven provinces at the eastern border of the Byzantine empire, survived until the end of the 6th century and was replaced by another military-administrative structure called thema. It is still debated where in Byzantine lands these themas were established, supposedly initiated by Emperor Heraclius (610-641). When looking at the conditions of Bilād al-Shām before the Islamic conquests, it appears that the Byzantines reestablished control over the region by defeating the Sasanians at the Battle of Nineveh. The region came under control of the Muslims through military conquests. After these conquests, Muslims initiated a new military and administrative structure called jund. The junds were established first in Jordan, Palestine, Damascus, and Homs. The Umayyads added to these a fifth jundin Qinnasrin. The jund divisions, which seems to have existed only in Bilād alShām under Muslim rule, underwent some transformations by the establishment of ‘awāŝim and thughūr cities by the Abbasids. The junds of Bilād al-Shām began to dissolve in time—especially due to the turmoil caused by the Crusades—and this system was abandoned. This study focuses on the origins and formation of junds as well as on the Byzantine influence in their establishments. It first examines the kinds of administrative systems that were applied in Byzantine Bilād al-Shām. Then, it reviews the information provided in primary sources about the process of the formation of the jund system. It brings together accounts in Balādhurī, who was the first author relaying the formation and transformation of the junds, and other works on geography penned by Muslims. It provides an overview of the junds’ administrative structures (such as changes in time, subdistricts, and capitals) and on economic structures (like annual tax resources both in kind and in cash and the coin known as jundī etc.). In addition, it includes tables comparing amounts of taxes varying by different geographic districts in Bilād al-Shām. Moreover, it also seeks answer to the question whether the jund system was an administrative district formed first by Muslims or inspired by previous Byzantine examples. Modern historians discuss whether the jund system in Bilād al-Shām was a Muslim invention or a continuation of the Byzantine administrative system. Although some argue that the Diocletian system existed in Bilād al-Shām before the Muslim conquests, it is worth noting that Irfan Shadid, a specialist on Arab-Byzantine relations, underlined the existence of quadripartite division formed by Heraclius, as he called it “unfinished Byzantine themas.” According to him, between the Battle of Nineveh in 628 (ending Sasanian control in Bilād al-Shām) and the Battle of Yarmuk in 636 (in which the Byzantines lost control in Bilād al-Shām), Heraclius established a quadripartite system. The four junds that formed after the Muslim conquests (Jordan, Palestine, Damascus and Homs) were actually a continuation of the prior system (and later the fifth jund would be established in Qinnasrin). My research in this paper adopts this argument, because it seems to have stronger historical basis. Therefore, the details of this perspective supporting the Byzantine origins of the junds of Bilād al-Shām seems to have qualitatively and quantitatively solid ground. Ultimately, the study argues that the junds shared many common aspects with previous Byzantine systems and thus stood largely as a continuation of these previous systems.

This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of ten Turkish theology journals indexed in the “Religion” category in Web of Science (WoS). The main objective of the study is to examine the research performance of these journals in the international academic platform, to evaluate their visibility and impact, and to offer some solutions. As in other fields, bibliometric analyses has become increasingly important in the field of theology in recent years. Such analyses help to monitor and measure publication quality as well as academic performance. However, there is no comprehensive bibliometric analysis on theological journals in Türkiye. In this context, this study aims to determine the international visibility and impact of WoS-indexed theological journals in Türkiye. The study is expected to contribute to similar bibliometric analyses in the field of theology and to fill the gaps in the literature. All data used in the study were obtained from the WoS database. The raw data extracted from the database were checked and made ready for analysis after the necessary data cleaning. Bibliometrix (R software package) and VOSviewer, which are professional applications in this field, were used to perform bibliometric analysis of these data. The data were evaluated based on various metrics, such as the number and type of published articles, number of citations, and author collaboration. In addition, details such as the annual growth rates of the journals and the most cited articles were also analyzed. The key findings of the study are as follows: As a result of the profiles and comparative analyses of the journals, it was found that Türkiye is one of the leading countries with ten journals, ranking sixth among the countries with journals indexed in the WoS “Religion” category. The inclusion of new theological journals in the WoS index in recent years shows that Türkiye is well positioned in international academic journalism in the field of theology, with a growing influence through collective experience. The fact that all the journals are open access (through the DergiPark system) enables the articles in these journals to reach a wide readership in the international academic community. The national and international collaborative networks of authors publishing in these journals, influential articles and the development processes of the journals were analyzed in detail. Accordingly, names such as Ali Ayten, Ayfer Gedikli and Seyfettin Erdoğan stand out among the most influential writers. Sakarya Univ., Cumhuriyet Univ., and Erciyes Univ. are the prominent institutions in terms of the total number of publications. At the same time, Sakarya Univ., Marmara Univ., and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Univ. are the institutions with the highest number of cooperation networks. While Azerbaijan, the USA and Kyrgyzstan stand out as countries with international cooperation in publishing, the article emphasizes the need to increase the rate of publications with international cooperation and the importance of journals being included in higher indexes. In addition, the lack of studies on gender distribution analysis was highlighted and the importance of this issue for journals in the future was mentioned. The study mentions the total publication-citation ratio and the cumulative number of publications of the journals by years and includes the most influential articles. Again, the language of publication in these journals was examined and it was found that articles written in English were slightly more effective and had a higher citation potential. The study also carried out keyword analyses of these articles. Issues such as which topics are covered more, which concepts are used more frequently, and how often they are used are discussed. All these findings show how the theological journals in Türkiye have gained a place in the academic community worldwide. As a result, the international academic performance of Turkish theological journals has been comprehensively evaluated and it has been revealed that these journals have an important place in the academic community.

Tayādhūq, also known as Theodocus/Théodoros (d. early 8th century AD), was educated in the Gondēs̲h̲āpūr School and served the Sassanid kings. During this period, he contacted the Umayyad court and became the physician of Hajjāj ibn Yūsuf (d. 715 AD), the general governor of the Eastern regions of the caliphate. In addition to his knowledge on the Sassanid scientific tradition, Tayādhūq had a significant role in transferring this tradition to the Islamic world. His ideas were later followed by polymath physicians such as Rhazes (Abū Bakr al-Rāzī, d. 925 AD), Avicenna (Ibn Sīnā, d. 1037 AD), and others who lived after him. His medical works were of great importance to the development of early Islamic medicine. Therefore, this study will attempt to illuminate this forgotten scholar's medical knowledge, the works he produced, and finally illustrate his influences on later Muslim physicians.

This article analyses the computer game ‘Knights of the Light: The Prologue,’ which focuses on a theme from the early periods of Islamic history, and evaluates its role in the teaching and learning Islamic history. The game centres around the Battle of Qādisiyya (15/636), a critical juncture during one of the significant milestones for Muslims in their struggle against the Sassanids, marking a pivotal moment in the early Islamic conquests. Commanders Qaʿqāʿ b. ʿAmr and his brother ʿĀṣim b. ʿAmr, who played crucial roles in the events leading up to the eradication of the Sassanids from the historical stage, are the primary figures in this game. Despite encountering some technical flaws and receiving unfavourable feedback from players, the game’s commendable effort to adhere to historical data and accurately present the conditions of that period deserves recognition. In this regard, the game becomes the focal point of this article concerning the instruction and education of Islamic history. Factors such as the prominence of learning materials through computer games, the vivid portrayal of historical events, and the encouragement of students to delve into more profound research, as exemplified by this game, suggest the effectiveness of such games as valuable tools in the education of Islamic history.

Early Islam, spanning its nascent centuries from the early 7th century, encompasses a pivotal epoch covering the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, the establishment of Islamic principles, the codification of the Qur’ān, and the evolution of Islamic law and theological thought. This article outlines the findings of a pioneering bibliometric analysis of 764 high-value articles on early Islam from the Web of Science (WoS) database and unveils critical trends. This study, which notably highlights increased academic activities, particularly interdisciplinary expansion into archaeology and related fields, demonstrates a contemporary upsurge in scholarly engagement within humanities and social sciences. Global contributions from 60 countries, led by the USA, showcase an international landscape, and English emerges as the predominant language. (Der) Islam-Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Kultur des Islamischen Orients and Journal of Archaeological Science Reports stand out as the most prolific journals across all fields, followed by Journal of Archaeological Science. This highlights the growing significance of archaeology in the research on early Islam. The top authors with the most publications N. Schibille, I. Taxel, and G. Bar-oz and most cited authors I. C. Freestone, J. Henderson, and Y. Avni shape the field. Financial support from organizations like the European Research Council (ERC), the Spanish Government and the Israel Science Foundation signals strategic investments in Islamic studies. Lastly, a keyword analysis emphasizes prevalent themes, such as Islam, early Islam, early Islamic period, and Qur’ān, providing a concise snapshot of the field’s contemporary focus. These insights underscore the rising international importance of Islamic research. Recognizing the limitations of the present study, this bibliometric analysis offers a foundational framework for future research by inspiring further scholarly exploration of emerging trends and thematic gaps in the field. Similar content being viewed by others