Prof. Dr. Süleyman ATEŞ (28.07.1976 - 07.02.1978)

Prof. Dr. Süleyman Ateş was born in the village of Tadım in Elazığ in 1933.He started taking lessons from the village teacher and after memorizing the Quran at the age of 10, he took religion and Arabic lessons from local scholars and preachers. In 1960, he graduated from Imam Hatip (Religious) High School. In 1964, he graduated top of his class from Ankara University Faculty of Theology. After teaching for a year, he became a research assistant at Quran interpretation department at Ankara University Faculty of Theology in July 1965. In 1968, he earned his PhD in interpretation of the Quran and earned a degree of Doctor of Theology. He did his military service as a reserve officer between 1969 and 1971 and returned to the Faculty. Meanwhile, he also graduated from the department of English of the State Language School.

In 1973, he made observations in Iraq and Egypt. In October that same year, he was appointed President of Religious Affairs and remained in office until 07.02.1978. After leaving office he returned to his position at the Faculty. He became a professor in 1979. He was sent to Germany fors ix months and conducted research at Bochum Ruhr University. Then at the invitation of Imam Muhamaed University he went to Saudi Arabia and lectured at this university for 7 years. In the 1987-1988 academic year he lectured at Emir Abdulkadir Islamic Sciences University in Algeria and then he returned home became Head of Fundamental Islamic Sciences Department at 19 Mayıs University Faculty of Theology.

In 1955, he was appointed a lecturer at Istanbul University Faculty of Theology where he was also head of Fundamental Islamic Sciences department. He retired in 1999.More than a hundred of his books have been published.

Some of his books are: “The Quran and its Holy Meaning”, “Contemporary Interpretation of the Holy Quran (12 volumes)”, “Interpretation of the Quran (Summarized Interpretation:3 volumes)”, “The Quran Encyclopedia (30 volumes)”, “ New Manual of Islamic Faith, Worship and Ethics”, “Current Discussions in Islam”, “Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) According to the Quran”, “The History of Prophets in the Quran”, “Objections to the Quran and Answers from the Quran”, “Islam with Questions and Answers (4 volumes) ”, “Islamic Philosophy”, “Man and Superhuman Beings” and “Vestiges of the Invisible World.”