Contributions of the pioneers of the first generation of imam hatip to religious education and services in Turkey

The purpose of this research is to study the role of the first generation that studied in İmam Hatip Schools that have opened for the second time in 1951 in Turkey's services in social, cultural, and religious fields, the change and transformations in religious education, religious life, and religious services. Within the scope of this subject; profile of the first İmam Hatip generation; their religious education, religious services, and their opinions on İmam Hatip Schools; contributions to these fields; services made in the name of İmam Hatip Schools and High Islamic Institutes; endeavours of organising with pioneering of first İmam Hatip generation, publishing activities, academic works, and services made as part of Directorate of Religious Affairs. Literature review method was used in the research. As data source in the research, writings and works of the first İmam Hatip generation as well as works that tell about them and works that are obtained and published by ways such as interviewing, videotaping, etc are used. The research is limited to the names from the first generation brought up in İmam Hatip Schools that can be reached from the related literature. The results determined at the end of the research are as follows. The first İmam Hatip generation are made up of persons that have similar lives and surroundings, more or less received basic religious knowledge from their immediate surroundings, and learnt to read Qur'an. A small portion have received hafiz and madrasah educations. In general, their ages are outside the period of general education when they start İmam Hatip Schools. Services have been made in the names of İmam Hatip Schools and High Islamic Institutes. Publishing and organising activities have been made with several entities such as associations, foundations, communities etc and several magazines and publishing houses. They have assumed significant duties in the country's social, academic, cultural, and religious fields with the several works they have taken on.