Yusuf Ziya Kavakci, Ph.D.

840 Abrams Rd.
Richardson, Texas 75081

972-231-5698 (Office)
972-231-6707 (Office Fax)
yzk@iant.com (email)


EDUCATION

Full Professor (1981). Thesis: "Comparative Study on the Shares of Man and Woman in Inheritance Law". Ataturk University, College of Islamic Studies, Erzurum, Turkey. This is the first time in Modern Turkey's Universities' that a full-professorship officially held as independent academic career in Islamic Law after the collapse of Ottoman Empire.

Associate Professor (1973). Thesis: " 'HISBA' Organization in Islamic Law and Culture". Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.

Assistant Professor (1969). Thesis: "Muslim Jurists of Qarakhanid Period in Transoxiana (XI-XII A.D. Centuries)", Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.

Ph.D. (1967). Faculty of Letters, Istanbul University, Institute of Islamic Research.

B.A. (1965). Islamic Studies, Institute of Higher Islamic Studies, Ministry of Education, Istanbul, Turkey.

LLB (1965). Faculty of Law, Istanbul University.

Graduation from Imam-Khatib School (1961), Istanbul, Turkey.

Graduation from Vefa Highschool (1960), Istanbul, Turkey.


OTHERS

1966: "Advocate", Board Certified Attorney, Turkey.

1957: Passed the national examinations for becoming Mufti (Muslim Bishop).

1955: Passed the national examinations for becoming Waiz (preacher).

1949 to 1954: Studied and trained in Tajwid, Qiraah, techniques of recitation of Qur'an, Arabic, Tafsir, Hadith, Fiqh, Siyar and allied Islamic Sciences, Hasircilar Qur'anic School, Adapazari, Sakarya, Turkey.

1948: Hifz al-Qur'an (memorized the Holy Qur'an).


RESEARCH INTEREST

Islamology (Islamic Law)

EXPERIENCE

1988 to Present: Resident Scholar, Islamic Association of North Texas, Richardson, Texas.

1988 to Present: Family Counselor in Islamic Matters, Islamic Association of North Texas, Richardson, Texas.

1988 to Present: Founder and supervisor of Qur'anic School, Islamic Association of North Texas, Richardson, Texas.

1985 to 1988: Advisor, on legal matters, for the Coordination Office for the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation among Islamic Countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference, Ankara, Turkey.

1985 to 1988: Counsellor for the Islamic Development Bank, Ankara, Turkey.

1983 to 1985: Director for Legal and Administrative Operations, ECE Construction S.A. Tripoli, Libya.

1983 to 1985: Lecturer on Islamic Law for post graduatestudies, and Member of Doctorate Panel, Al-Fatih University, Tripoli, Libya.

1983 to 1985: Counsellor on Legal Conflicts between KISKA Construction Company (Turkish Company Operating in Iraq) and Iraq Water Administration in Baghdad.

1983 to 1985: Arbitration Counsellor to Turkish Ozdemir Construction Company and Saudi Administration in Riyadh.

1981 to 1983: Full Professor of Islamic Studies and Dean of the Faculty, of Islamic Sudies, University of Ataturk, Erzurum, Turkey.

1979 to 1980: Guest Professor, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1974 to 1981: Associate Professor of Islamic Law, Faculty of Islamic Studies, University of Ataturk, Erzurum, Turkey.

1973 to 1974: Guest Professor School of Oriental Studies, Cambridge, U.K.

1970 to 1974: Research Assistant, Institute of Islamic Research, Istanbul, Turkey.

1968 to 1969: Teacher of Islamic Law, Institute of Higher Islamic Studies, Ministry of Education, Istanbul, Turkey.

1967 to 1968: Military Police, Turkish Army, Ankara, Turkey.

1966 to 1967: Lecturer in Beyoglu, Religious Affairs Organization, Istanbul, Turkey.

1962 to 1965: Imam of Ahmed Pasha Mosque, Religious Affairs Organization, Istanbul, Turkey.

1956 to 1961: Muadhdhin of Hirka-i Sharif Mosque, Religious Affairs Organization, Istanbul, Turkey.

LECTURES AND CONFERENCES

2002 to present: Hashiya Ibn 'Abidin, Radd al-Mukhtar, interesting points, lecture daily in Dallas Central Mosque, after Isha prayers.

2001 to present: al-Fiqh ala al-Madhahib al-Arba'ah by al-Jaziri, lecture daily to the congregation in Dallas Central Mosque, after Fajr prayers.

1994 (October) to 1995: al-Sirajiyyah by al-Sajawandi, Arabic text in Islamic Inheritance Law, taught Arabic text to the students on Saturdays 2 hours per week. Dallas Central Mosque, Richardson, Texas.

1993 (December) to 1997 (December): Ramuz al-Ahadith by Gumushkhanawi Ahmad Diya' al-Din.Lectured to the public in Dallas Central Mosque as book twice every day after Fajr and Isha' and before Friday prayers with Arabic text. The lectures are recorded by audio tapes. 90 minute 218 tapes.

1992 (August) to present: Qur'anic Arabic, Weekends. Teaching Qur'anic Arabic by studying Qur'an, and recording lessons on video (Reached Surah Maryam as of March 2002).

1992 (December) to 1993 (December): al-Mukhtasar by al-Quduri. Lectured to the public in Dallas Central Mosque twice a day together with Arabic text. The lectures are recorded by audio tapes.

1992 (November): Matn al-`Aqa'id al-Nasafiyyah by `Umar al-Nasafi, Dallas Central Mosque, lectured to the public together with Arabic twice a day. Lectures are recorded by audio tapes.

1992 (October to November): Matn al-`Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah by Abu Ja`far al-Tahawiyy, Dallas Central Mosque, lectured to the public together with Arabic text twice a day. Letures are taped by audio tapes.

1992 (August to October): Nur al-Idah by al- Shurunbilali, Dallas Central Mosque, lectured to public twice a day. Lectures are taped by audio tapes.

1992 (June to August): "Bad' al-Amali" by Siraj al-Din Ali al-Ushi together with its commentary "Daw' al-Ma`ali" by Nur al-Din Ali al-Qari, Dallas Central Mosque, lectured to public twice a day.

1992 (January) to 1992 (June): "Muwatta'" by Imam Malik, Dallas Central Mosque, lectured to public twice every day.

1991 (June) to 1992 (January): "Sunan" by Abu Dawud al-Sijistani, Dallas Central Mosque, lectured in congregation.

1991 (April to May): Lectured "al-'Aqa'id al-Nasafiyyah", Dallas Central Mosque, in congregation.

1991 (January to December): "Nur al-Idah" by al-Shurunbilali, teaches at the Qur'anic School, IANT, Richardson, Texas.

1989 to present: Teaching courses on Qur'anic Arabic, Qur'anic School, Islamic Association of North Texas, Richardson, Texas.

1989 to present: Teaching recitation and Tajwid of al-Qur'an, Qur'anic School, IANT.

1989 to present: Khatm al-Qur'an, Dallas Central Mosque (periodical recitation of Qur'an from memory in congregation, in an approximate period of three months each).

1989 to 1990: Taught "al-'Aqa'id al-Nasafiyyah", Qur'anic School, IANT.

1989 to 1990: Lectured to congregation "al-Targhib wa 'l-Tarhib" by al-Mundhiri, Dallas Central Mosque, Richardson, Texas.

1988 to present: Regular Lecturer for Area Churches and Schools, Dallas, Texas.

1988 to present: Lecturer on demand at Area Universities and Community Colleges, Dallas, Texas.

1988 to 1989: Lectured to Congregation of Dallas Central Mosque twice a day Arabic text of Bidayat al-Mujtahid wa Nihayat al-Muqtasid" by Ibn Rushd with English explanation.


OTHER ACTIVITIES

2002 (March) to present: Member of Peace Institute Advisory Board, Richland Community College, Dallas, Texas.

2002 (January) to present: Live Fatwa Sessions, IslamOnline.net.

2000 to present: Member of Richardson ISD Religious Practices Advisory Board, Richardson, Texas.

1997 (January) to 2000 (December): Member of Majlis al-Shura, Islamic Society of North America.

1994 to present: Member of the Metroplex Muslim Leadership Conference (Dallas/Fort Woth).

1994: Member of Dallas Leadership Conference.

1992 to 1998: Member of the Muslim-Christian Dialogue Group, Greater Dallas Community of Churches, Dallas, Texas.

1992 to 1998: Member of Cousins' Club, Dallas, Texas.

1991: Member of Religious Policies Committee, Richardson Independent School District, Texas.

1990 to 1999: Member the Richardson Interfaith Alliance.

1989 to present: Member of Interfaith Trialogue Group of Bishops, Rabbis, and Muslim Scholars of DFW.

1988 to present: Member of Fiqh Committee of Greater Dallas and Forth Worth Council of Masajid.

1988 to present: Member of Council of Masajid of Dallas and Forth Worth Metroplex area, Texas.

1988 to present: Member of Religious Community Task Force of Dallas Independent School District, Dallas, Texas.

1988 to present: Member of Thanksgiving Square, Dallas, Texas.

1988 to present: Member of Greater Dallas Community of Churches, Dallas, Texas.

1988 to present: Answering Religious Questions (Fatwa), IANT, Richardson, Texas.


LANGUAGES

Turkish, Arabic, Persian, English, German, and Ottoman Turkish.

CONVENTIONS AND SEMINARS

Regular Speaker at Annual ISNA Conventions, 1989 - present.

Conference of The Association of Muslim Social Scientists, Lansing, MI, Oct. 30 - Nov. 1, 1992.

Seminar on "Problems and Solutions of Muslims" organized by MSA, Columbus, Ohio, December 27-29, 1991.

Conference of the Association of the Muslim Social Scientists (Detroit, Michigan October 25-27, 1991).

Meeting of Continental Council of Masajid (Chicago, September 1990).

Conference of the Association of the Muslim Social Scientists (Detroit, Michigan October 1990).

First International Conference on Scientific Miracles of Qur'an and Sunnah (Islamabad 1988).

First Congress of Islamic Banks (Istanbul 1987).

Meetings of the Standing Committee For Economic and Commercial Cooperation among Islamic Countries under the Organization of Islamic Conference (Istanbul 1986, 1987).

Conference on the Establishment of Religion, Organized by Islamic Call Society (Tripoli, Libya 1986).

Turkish-Arab Relations (Istanbul 1985).

Meeting of the Standing Committee For Culture and Information Among Islamic Countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference (Dakar 1985).

Conference on Ijtihad Al-Multaqa li'l-Fikr al-Islami (Kostantiniyyah, Algeria 1983).

Islamic Revolution (Tehran 1981).

Muslim Students' Association (Indianapolis 1979).

Sind Through the Centuries (Karachi 1977).

Islam-Christianity Dialogue (Tripoli, Libya 1976).

First International Conference on Islamic Economics (Mecca 1976).

Congress of Orientalists (Paris 1973).

PUBLICATIONS

Turkish:

1. "Muslim Jurists of Qarakhanid Period in Transoxiana", Ankara 1976, pp. 322.

2. "Hisba Organization", Ankara 1975, pp. XIX-150.

3. "Syrian-Roman Code and Islamic Law", Ankara 1975, pp. XI-78.

4. "Methodology of Islamic Studies", Ankara 1976, pp. 215.

English:

1. "Islam (Briefly)", Istanbul, 1991, pp. 15.

2. "Islamic Inheritance Law", Dallas, Texas, 1994.

TRANSLATIONS

1. "Hadith Litterature", Siddiqi M. Z.,Istanbul 1966. (From English to Turkish)

2. "Islam and Modern Economics", Istanbul, 1967. (From French to Turkish)

3. "Al-Usrah Fi'l-Shar' al-Islami, Farrukh O., Istanbul 1968. (From Arabic to Turkish)

4. "Angora Reform", Ostrorog C. L., Istanbul, 1972. (From English to Turkish)

5. "Economics of Islam", Muhammad Ahmad Mahmud, Istanbul, 1976. (From English to Turkish)

6. "Islam and the Problem of Economic Justice", Fazlur Rahman, Erzurum, 1976. (From English to Turkish)

7. "A Travelogue of my Journey to the Cape of Good Hope", Omer Lutfi Efendi, Cape Town, South Africa, 1991. (From Ottoman Turkish to English)

ARTICLES

"29 th. Congress of Orientalists (Paris 1973)" Islam Tetkikleri Enstitusu Dergisi vol. V, Parts 3-4, Istanbul 1974.

"The Foundation of International Islamic Law" by Hans Kruse, (From German to Turkish), ibid.

"Sighting the Moon and Ramadan", Image, Magazine of IANT, Dallas, Texas, 1991.

"The Importance of 'Ilm al Khilaf to North America", American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, Vol. 8, Number 3, Herndon, Virginia, Dec. 1991.

"What Muslims Need in U.S.A.", Image, Magazine of IANT, Dallas, Texas, 1992.

READY FOR PUBLICATION

Turkish:

1. "Bibliography of Islamic Law"

2. "America I saw and My Comments"

Arabic:

1. "al-Furuq by al-Karabisi" (textual criticism in Arabic)

English:

1. "Fiqh, Islamic Law and Usul al-Fiqh" (224 pages double spaced)

2. "Methodology of Islamic Research" (169 pages double spaced)

3. "Multaqa 'l-Abhur" by Ibrahim al-Halabi (translation from Arabic into English)
(500 pages double spaced)

4. "Travel Accounts of Cape of Good Hope" by Omer Lutfi Efendi (translation from Ottoman Turkish into English) (130 pages single spaced)

WORKS UNDER STUDY

1. "Islamic Issues of Muslims in America (An Analytical Study and Suggestions for Solutions)"

PERSONAL

Birth date: 1938, Hendek, Sakarya, Turkey.
Married, Three Children