The relationship between calamity and belief: The example of Syrians living in Fatih, Istanbul

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between calamity and kalam in terms of theology. The research was conducted with interview technique and qualitative research method. The research wascarried out by means of the phenomenology design, which is one of the qualitative research methods. In this study, easily accessible sampling method isused. The study group of the research consisted of 25 people, 15 men and 10 women. In the research, an interview form was used as a means of collecting data about the participants. The interview form included 5 basic questions (13 sub-questions) to determine the views of the participants on the effect of calamities on belief. The data of the research were obtained from interviews with Syrian refugees living in Istanbul Fatih. The collected data were recorded in electronic environment and subjected to preliminary analysis in order to be able to perform verbal and numerical operations. The research focused on making sense of the calamities experienced by the participants and the effects of these calamities on their world of belief. The participants evaluated pain and suffering as a lesson and a test, and stated that such pains can happen to people who are responsible and not, that this type of calamity will be beneficial in some aspects, and within this framework, they expressed similar views to the views of Kalam schools. In addition, it was determined that the participants preferred positive methods instead of negative methods, which are religious coping methods. As a result of the research, it isunderstood that the participants tried to get help from religious values in order to overcome the tensions they experienced in the face of the calamities they were exposed to. As a result, it isdetermined that the calamities experienced affect the belief worlds of the participants in a positive way, not in a negative way. Keywords: Kalam, Calamity, Belief.