Early Life and Education

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin Ay was born on April 1, 1963, in Van, Turkey. He completed his primary education at İki Nisan Primary School in his neighborhood and then enrolled at the Van İmam Hatip High School. Due to his outstanding academic performance, he earned the right to take advanced courses externally and graduated from this school in June 1980. Ay began his higher education at the Erzurum Higher Islamic Institute, continued his studies in Bursa, and graduated first in his class from Uludağ University Faculty of Theology in 1984. In the same year, he started his academic career as a research assistant in the Department of Religious Education at the faculty. He completed his master's degree in 1986 with the thesis "Teaching Faith in God to Children" and his doctorate in 1992 with the work "Reward and Punishment in Religious Education."

Academic Career

After completing his military service in 1993, Mehmet Emin Ay continued his work at Uludağ University Faculty of Theology. He became an associate professor in 1995 and a professor in 2001. Throughout his academic career, he held various administrative positions; he was the Head of the Department of Religious Education from 1995 to 1998 and the Head of the Department of Religious Culture and Moral Knowledge from 1998 to 2003. Returning to this position again from 2016, Ay also served as a member of faculty and administrative boards. He successfully completed the research project "Problems and Expectations of Regional Residential Qur'an Courses Affiliated with the Directorate of Religious Affairs," supported by Uludağ University and the Directorate of Religious Affairs between 1993 and 1995. He currently serves as a professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Sciences at Uludağ University Faculty of Theology.

Religious Services and Administrative Roles

In addition to his academic career, Mehmet Emin Ay has held significant roles in religious services. He served as the Mufti of Bursa Province from 2011 to 2016 and was reappointed to this position in 2013. Since 2022, he has been serving as the Chief Imam-Hatip at Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi. Assigned by the Directorate of Religious Affairs to lead Friday prayers and subsequent prayer times every week at Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi, Ay began this role on September 30, 2022. He also undertook the voice-over for the Turkish translation in the interactive CD project "Qur'an Completion" in 2008. In 1991, he contributed to the educational infrastructure by establishing a sound recording studio and a "Smart Classroom" at his faculty, and in 1996, he founded the Faculty of Theology Guidance and Counseling Center (İREM).

Publications and Academic Contributions

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin Ay has produced numerous publications in the field of religious education. He has published 37 articles in various academic journals, supervised 29 theses, and presented 22 open-access works. His books include "How to Explain God to Our Children?" (28 editions), "Reward and Punishment in Religious Education," "Guidance in Higher Education," and "My Unique Prophet and Children of His Time." He has delivered papers at national and international symposiums and taught courses like "Education Methods in Hadith" and "Religious Education System in Turkey." His research areas encompass social sciences, humanities, and theology; he is proficient in English (C1) and Arabic (B2).

Music and Art Activities

Besides his identity as a theologian, Mehmet Emin Ay is also known for his musical pursuits. He began his music career with the album "Taleal Bedru Aleyna" in 1988 and developed a unique style between Sufi and classical Turkish music. He has composed over 65 pieces, released 21 albums, and recorded the Qur'an three times. His albums "White Petition" (2001) and "Love for Rose" (2004) received considerable attention, and he was awarded the ESKADER Music Award in 2009. Additionally, he has engaged with calligraphy and photography, creating documentaries like "From Istanbul to Bukhara" and "Saints of Bursa." In 2008, he recited the Qur'an for Queen Elizabeth II of England at Bursa Green Mosque.

Media and Social Participation

Since 1986, Ay has been preparing and presenting programs on TRT and private channels and produced the "Ramadan Special Program" in 1998. Until 2024, he has participated in symposiums in countries such as Japan, Germany, and Turkey, delivering lectures like "Our Prophet and Character Building." Ay organizes hadith discussions at Bursa Ataevler Edebâli Mosque and is married with three children.