The development and importance of communication science in Islamic thought

This study aims to conduct a conceptual analysis of the development and significance of communication science within the framework of İslamic thought. It explores the meaning and methods that constitute communication through a multidimensional approach, grounded in conceptual foundations and examined within a historical context. Within the Islamic tradition, the nature of language, the function of kalam ( Islamic theology), the influence of communication arguments are discussed in comparison with the fundamental Dynamics of modern communication sciences. To understand how the development and conceptual foundations of communication science in Islamic thought have evolved from past to present, a literature review method has been adopted. In this context, the study draws upon original Works of classical Islamic thinkers as well as modern academic interpretations and analyses of these works. The research reveals that from the earliest periods of Islamic, communication has existed in a multifaceted form-not merely as a means of constructing meaning, persuasion, representation, moral expression, and spiritual connection between the individual and the Creator. The main premise of this study is that the phenomenon of communication in Islamic thought should be examined holistically, encompassing its philosophical, linguistic, theological (kelam), and rhetorical (khatabah) dimensions. Accordingly, the concept of communication is analyzed not only in interpersonal contexts but also within the individual's iner world and their relationship with the Divine. Elements such as internal cammunication methods, rhetoric, persuasion are used as structural components in this analysis. By posing guestions about the nature of communication, the study systematically explores the answers provided by Islamic thought. The theoretical framework of the thesis evaluates the views of numerous Islamic thinkers-most notably Al- Farabi, Ibni Sina (Avicenna), Al-Gazali, İbni Arabi, and İbni Haldun- on longuage, meaning, expression, concepts, and rhetoric. In this regard, the thinkers' perspectives on the structure of language, the mental representation of meaning are examined to trace the origins of communication science within the Islamic intellectual tradition. Concepts such as expression (ibdain), utterance (lafız), discourse (kelam), speech (kavl), conception (tasavvur), assent (tasdik), metaphor (mecaz), intuition (hadsiyyat), and others are utilized to demonstrate the enique contributions of Islamic thought to the field of communication. Moreover, communication practices, concepts, and intellectual approaches embedded in Islamic thought are addressed in a systematic and coherent framework. The findings are then compared with modern communication theories to highlight conceptual convergences and divergences. In doing so, the study provides a conceptual map of communication within Islamic thought and aligns it with contemporary scientific discourse.