Theological (Kalam) thought of Ermenekli Süleyman Sırrı Efendi and his works on kalam

The work of Ermenekli Süleyman Efendi (died in 1931), one of the scholars of the late Ottoman period, Kenzu'l-Aqaid is appreciated by not only those who want to acquire religious knowledge, but the ones participating to the gatherings on wisdom, as well. There has been a need to publish the book because the groups that are interested in the work have changed and the groups valuing the book have enlarged in comparison with the past. Also, some members of these intellectual groups either do not speak Arabic or do not give the required importance to the language and this fact is among the reasons of the publication of the book. As an additional motivation of publishing the book is the influence of people who consider the loyalty to religion as the only solution regarding the survival problem of the state. Likewise, masses who are interested in the book, whether Muslim or not, are struggling to teach the issues about Islam, especially the issues regarding the essence of faith over a sect that is widely accepted, and the essential points regarding the practice of the religion. It can be claimed that rather than responding to the trends of his period, Süleyman Sırrı, tried to explain the issues in order to encourage the people who have the faith to inquire and protect their faith by his providing commentary evidence. At this point, It is possible to observe the reflections of the new education system and modern thought on the essence of faith. This thesis named as "Theological (Kalam) Thought of Ermenekli Süleyman Sırrı Efendi and His Works on Kalam" includes three main chapters. In the first chapter, the biography and works of Ermenekli Süleyman Sırrı Efendi are introduced. Kenzu'l-Aqaid, one of the aqaid books of Ermenekli Süleyman Sırrı Efendi is analyzed in the second chapter. The last chapter provides the script, which is constructed by the printed copies that have reached today, in Ottoman language and its translation.