Haluk Nurbâki̇'s approach to the Qur'an as an example of a scientific interpretation

The Quran is a divine book sent by God to guide and guide humanity. Since its revelation, it has been interpreted and understood. Because it is final and universal, it contains knowledge that can address all times and places. The meanings derived from its verses have varied depending on time, place, and the understanding of scholars. Over the last two centuries, with the advancement of science and technology and their penetration into every aspect of our lives, different methods for understanding the Quran have emerged. One of these methods is the effort to understand the Quran by uncovering the implications between the verses of the universe and scientific data. Generally speaking, it is scientific exegesis. Haluk Nurbâki, the subject of our thesis, is one of the many scholars who attempted to understand and explain Quranic verses using scientific exegesis. Besides being a physician, Nurbâki was one of the rare figures who strived to understand the Quran and explain it to others. He interpreted verses, particularly those that mentioned the universe and addressed the situations it addressed in its scientific context, in a way that aligned with the understanding of our time and the spirit of exegesis. While interpreting the verses of the universe, Nurbâki evaluated the data discovered by scientists and the meanings conveyed by the verses, revealing the harmony between them. With this effort, he demonstrated that it is possible to be both a scientist and a Quranic commentator. The Quran is a miraculous book, demonstrated to us by the verses of the universe within it. One of the methods that have helped us understand the miraculous nature of the Quran in this century is scientific exegesis studies that explore these verses. Along with scholars who have produced numerous works, Nurbâki's book Verses from the Holy Quran and Scientific Facts, which specifically addresses scientific issues, demonstrates the miraculous nature of the Quran. In our time, accurate and scientific exegesis in accordance with Divine will is crucial for understanding the Quran. Because the Quran was revealed to meet the needs of our time, as it has always been the case. Since the unbelievers of this time resort to scientific methods to deny God, they must be rebuked through scientific means. Therefore, it is necessary to interpret the scientific information in the Quran in a way that meets the needs of our time. In this thesis, we explored a number of verses of the universe and the many scientific issues they allude to, through Nurbâki's perspectives and interpretations. In addition to Nurbâki, we also cited works by commentators who offered scientific interpretations of the verses, such as Süleyman Ateş, Celal Yıldırım, Celal Kırca, Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır, and Mehmet Sait Şimşek. Our aim is to examine Nurbâki's scientific interpretations of the verses, sometimes comparing them with those of other commentators. In our study, we saw that the advancement of science and the increase in scientific studies have had an impact on the field of interpretation, as in every other discipline. This has led to a better understanding of some verses of the Quran. The fact that the data obtained from scientific studies do not contradict the Quranic verses and, in fact, confirm the meanings implied by the verses demonstrates the miraculous nature of the Quran. On the negative side, we have reached the following conclusion: the methods used by scholars to interpret verses are approximately the same. They generally demonstrate the compatibility of the researcher's conclusion with the verse. In other words, commentators explain verses based on research conducted by foreign scholars, rather than their own research or the interpretations or studies of a group of Muslims. Instead, it would be more beneficial for one or more Muslim scholars from every discipline to come together and write a comprehensive commentary. Indeed, the Islamic world boasts scholars from every branch of science. Our thesis consists of three sections: The first section covers what scientific exegesis is, its purpose, and its importance. The second section covers the life and works of Haluk Nurbâki. The third section covers the scientific topics Haluk Nurbâki addressed in light of the verses.