A kalam scholar, legist. He was born in Istanbul on January 23rd,
1941. His full name is Mustafa Saim Yeprem. He graduated from Fatih I. Primary School
(1951), from İstanbul İmam Hatip High School (1959) and from Pertevniyal High School
in year later. He attended the Department of Philosophy at the Faculty of Literature
and the Faculty of Law, Istanbul University and in 1963 he graduated from Yüksek İslam
Institute, Istanbul.
While he was doing his doctorate on Arabic Language and Literature at the
Faculty of Literature, Istanbul University, he attended the Faculty of Literature, University of Baghdad in 1970 for a year. Upon his
return, he resumed his doctorate study at Istanbul University.
In 1977, he was appointed to İstanbul Yüksek İslam Institute as an Assistant of
Kalam and Islamic Thought. He was became a doctor in 1983 with his theses on “İrâde Hürriyeti ve İmam Mâturîdî” at Marmara University,
Institute of Social Sciences, after it was turned into the Faculty of Theology of
Marmara University in 1982 with the legislative decree numbered 41 in 1982. He
became an assistant professor the same year and a professor in 1992.
In 1959, he began to work in the service of office of
Eminönü Mufti, Istanbul.
He reigned from this duty in 1963 when he was appointed to Ministry of National
Education’s teacher staff. He taught Arabic Language and Literature and
Vocational Courses in Düzce İmam Hatip
High School and he was
also the principal of the school. He completed his mandatory military duty in Izmir and Kars
between the years of 1966 and 1968 as reserve officer. Upon his return, he continued
teaching vocational courses in İstanbul İmam Hatip High School.
While he was working at İstanbul İmam Hatip High School,
he was appointed to the Department of Collection and Publishing, Presidency of
Religious Affairs in 1972. He also worked at Religious Publications Directorate
of Circulating Capital, Istanbul Archive of Şerriye (Islamic law) Registration.
He was a Prayer Times Calculation expert, President of Koran Analyzing Committee
and director of the Library of Presidency of Religious Affairs.
In 1975, he
resigned from his duty in the Presidency of Religious Affairs and returned to his
teaching career to teach vocational courses in Kadıköy İmam Hatip High School.
In 1976-77, he was
appointed to İstanbul Yüksek İslam Institute as an assistant of Kalam and
Islamic Thought; and promoted as the Lecturer of Kalam and Islamic Thought upon
having completed his studies.
He was also the vice-principal, head assistant and
principal of İstanbul Yüksek till 1982. When he was on this duty, he became the
dean of the Faculty of Theology by proxy when the Yüksek İslam Institute joined
the Marmara University on 20th July 1982.
He was appointed to vice-dean and lecturer when a dean was appointed as the
principal person. He had maintained his office there for twelve years besides
lecturing.
Between the years of 1996 and 1999, he was the principal
of Vocational Graduate School of Theology, the Faculty of Theology, Marmara University. After having continued his
duty as the dean of Faculty of Theology in
the academic year pf 1999-2000, he resigned from his administrative duties and
maintained his academic duties only.
Prof. Yeprem, he was appointed to the Department of Religious
Affairs High Council on 4th March 2005 with the decree of Board of
Ministers, while he was head of the Department of Kalam, Faculty of Theology, Marmara University. He was also the President of
Department of Research and Development (ARGED) in this Council. Along with
those offices, he also became the President of Committee of Science, Culture,
Art and Publication, Religious Foundation of Turkey (TDV İLKSAY Kurulu). On 23rd
January 2008, he got retired due to age limit, but maintained his office in TDV
ILKSAY.
Throughout his career, he had worked at many educational
institutions at home and abroad (such as Notre Dame De Sion). He conducted many
post graduate and doctorate theses and held positions as an administrator, as a
member of academic commissions and committees and as a lecturer a faculties and
universities. In 2010 Academic year, he worked as a guest lecturer in Goethe
University Frankfurt, Germany for one semester.
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Saim Yeprem has many copyrighted and
translated works and articles. He also attended many international and national
congresses, councils and symposiums in the position of a communicator, debater,
administrator, and evaluator.
Prof. Yeprem, whose articles were
published by many magazines such as Diyanet, Nesil and Hareket,
won an award in a competition held by a private organization with İrade
Hürriyeti ve İmam Maturidî. He was
also given the Overachievement Award by National Culture Foundation of Turkey and Marmara University.
He wrote more than one hundred and fifty entries for various encyclopedias abut
kalam and Islamic Thought.
WORKS
RESEARCHES AND
ANALYSIS: Hac ve Kurban /
Hükümler ve Delilleri (1965), Oruç İtikad ve Zekât - Hükümler ve
Delilleri (1965), İbadetlerimiz (1974), Mufassal Hac Rehberi ve
Kurban Hükümleri (With M. Talat Karaçizmeli, 1974), İrade Hürriyeti ve
İmam Maturidî (1980), İslâm Tarihinden Yapraklar, İslâm
Düşüncesinde Yeni Arayışlar I-II (With H. Hanefi, Bekir Topaloğlu and M.
Erdoğan, 1998).
TRANSLATIONS: İslâma Yönelen Yıkıcı Hareketler / Babilik ve
Bahailik (From Muhsin
Abdulhamid with H. Güleç, 1974), İslâm’da İtikadî Mezhepler ve Akaid
Esasları (from İrfan Abdulhamid, 1980).
REFERENCE: İhsan Işık / Türkiye Yazarlar Ansiklopedisi (2001, 2004) - Resimli ve Metin Örnekli Türkiye Edebiyatçılar ve Kültür Adamları Ansiklopedisi (2006, gen. 2. bas. 2007) - Ünlü Fikir ve Kültür Adamları (Türkiye Ünlüleri Ansiklopedisi, C. 3, 2013) - Encyclopedia of Turkey’s Famous People (2013), Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı adına Saim Yeprem Cevap verdi (Milli Gazete, 3.1.2011).