A field study on hadith and sunnah culture of senior high school students in the central districts of Van

This research aims to examine the demographic and cultural profiles, hadith and sunnah perceptions and religiosity levels of senior high school students studying in the central districts of Van. The research was started in 2014, but the thesis could not be completed within the legal period. In 2022, with the student amnesty, the study was restarted and the field research was repeated in 2023 to update the data. This situation allowed the data obtained in two different periods to be compared. By analysing the data obtained through questionnaires consisting of 82 questions conducted in 2014 and 2023, the study reveals the changes in students' level of knowledge about hadith and sunnah, sources of information and perceptions of religiosity. There has been a significant increase in the number of books read by students, especially the reading rate of religious books has increased. However, it is noteworthy that the interest in hadith books has decreased and students have difficulty in recognising hadiths. In terms of indicators of religiosity, there has been a significant decrease in the number of students praying on time and the rate of those who do not pray at all has increased. The frequency of Friday and Eid prayers shows a similar trend. Ramadan fasting, on the other hand, remained the most common practice among students. Significant changes were observed in students' perceptions of hadith and sunnah. While the level of influence of hadiths on an individual's behaviour was high in 2014, this influence decreased in 2023. Hadith and Sunnah culture still serves as an important bridge between young people's view of life and their religious feelings, despite the increasing secularisation in our society. In conclusion, this study reveals that students' level of hadith-sunnah knowledge and their perceptions of religiosity change over time. It is observed that they have difficulties in practising their existing hadith-sunnah knowledge. Therefore, it is important to develop more effective methods for young people to internalise and practice religious values. In this context, educators and students' families should make more efforts to increase young people's access to religious knowledge and help them internalise this knowledge.