Hafizs raised in Gaziantep during the Republican period

The primary source of the Islamic religion is the Holy Quran. From an Islamic perspective, learning and teaching the Quran hold great importance. The science of Qira'at (recitation) directly deals with the pronunciation of the Quranic text. This makes the learning and teaching of Qira'at a compulsory field of study. Quranic education has never been interrupted under any circumstances or during any period. The true architects of this success are the hafizes (those who have memorized the entire Quran) and their efforts. These individuals, even in extraordinary situations like war, when social life and political events affected human order, and resources were limited and scarce, exerted all their efforts to teach the science of the Quran. They undertook this as their duty, taking all risks regardless of the outcome. At the same time, these individuals also contributed to the development and advancement of Quranic learning in their respective regions. This study examines the famous hafizes of Gaziantep during the Republican Period and their efforts in Quranic education and teaching. The lack of sufficient information in the literature about the lives of these scholars, who grew up during a politically challenging period, necessitates such a study. The introduction of the study discusses Gaziantep and its political situation, addressing the conditions of that era. Following this, the first chapter delves into the intricacies of the science of Qira'at, providing information about the terminology related to the subject that the reader will frequently encounter during the study. It also sheds light on the training process of the hafizes who undertake this challenging task, touching upon the institution of hafizship and its significance. The second chapter of the study discusses the lives of the hafizes and examines their identified works. In the conclusion, a general evaluation is made based on the findings obtained.