Mahmud Esad ERKAYA

Prof. Dr. Mahmud Esad ERKAYA is a prominent academic in Islamic Studies and Sufism, currently serving as a Professor at the Department of Sufism, Faculty of Theology, Ankara Social Sciences University. He holds a PhD from Çukurova University (2015) and has held academic positions since 2012, including Associate Professorships at Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University and leadership roles in research centers. His research focuses on Sufi philosophy, Quranic mysticism, and the historical development of Islamic spiritual concepts.

Education: BSc in Theology (Ankara University, 2006), MSc in Islamic Law (Selçuk University, 2009), PhD in Fundamental Islamic Sciences (Çukurova University, 2015). Professional experience includes visiting research in Jordan (2014) and leadership in academic departments such as the Department of Sufism (Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University, 2018–2023).

Research interests span Sufi texts, Hadith analysis, and the interplay between Islamic Law and mysticism. He has advised over 10 graduate students and contributed to 8 academic projects. Notable publications include works on Hacı Bayram-ı Veli, Bektashi mysticism, and methodological critiques in Sufi historiography. He actively participates in editorial boards of 7 journals and peer review for 21 academic publications.

His academic contributions are reflected in 63 publications, including books like Kur'an Kaynaklı Tasavvuf Kavramları and Manevi Eğitim Metodu Olarak Halvet. He has delivered presentations at international conferences such as the Mevlana International Congress and the Hacı Bayram-ı Veli Symposium.