Mızraklı İlmihal (Book)

Mızraklı İlmihal is one of the classical ilmihal texts in the Islamic world. This edition, published as part of Dergâh Publications’ “Turkish Classics” series, has been prepared for publication by Prof. Dr. İsmail Kara. The work serves as a fundamental religious guide that explains, in simple language, the daily acts of worship, core beliefs, and moral responsibilities of Muslim individuals. First published by Dergâh Publications in 1989, the book consists of 256 pages and has reached its 13th printing as of July 2023.

Mızraklı İlmihal presents the fundamental principles of Islamic creed and jurisprudence in a clear and concise manner accessible to the general public. The book begins with the pillars of faith and proceeds to explain how to perform essential acts of worship such as prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and pilgrimage. It also draws attention to the deeper meaning and spiritual dimensions of these acts beyond their formal aspects.

In addition to religious obligations, the work addresses the individual’s social responsibilities and moral attitudes and behaviors. Through topics such as family relationships, rights of neighbors, and the boundaries of what is lawful and unlawful, it outlines the rules individuals should observe in daily life. Structured as a product of the classical ilmihal tradition, the book aims to facilitate access to religious knowledge through its clear and comprehensible language.

The language of Mızraklı İlmihal follows the classical textual tradition by offering a simple, didactic, and direct style. The text, constructed with clear sentence structures and straightforward concepts, ensures easy comprehension of religious knowledge. In the edition prepared by Prof. Dr. İsmail Kara, the original structure and style of the work have been preserved, while explanatory notes and adjustments have been made to present the content in a format accessible to contemporary readers. The text avoids praise, interpretation, or allusive expressions; instead, a descriptive and explanatory academic style has been chosen. The book’s mode of expression is characterized by a structure in which its instructional purpose predominates.