Using Art and Literature as the Language of Religious Education
Authors: Erdem Cavit 
Published: December 2022

In this article, the use of art and literature as the language of religious education has been researched and evaluations related to the subject have been given. People did not establish their communication with each other only in prose and verbal, but they used art and literature as a means of communication and interaction. Investigation of whether there are other communication and interaction languages apart from speech and prose in religious education makes the study important. In this study, which was carried out to reveal the importance of art and literature in terms of being the language of religious education, the document analysis method was used. In the religious resources, information about the content of education is given, as well as information and suggestions about the language of religious education and the style of the educator. In the verse, "Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good advice, and fight them in the best way", it is emphasized that attention should be paid to the language and style to be used while performing religious teaching and guidance activities. The Prophet's command "Give good news, do not make hate, make it easy, do not make it difficult" is seen as an important principle of the language and style of religious education. The verse, which states that the Prophet was mild-tempered and stayed away from harshness and rudeness while he was preaching, showed the Prophet as an example in religious education. Among the recommended language and style in religious education, there is a wisdom in what we do, avoiding rude and harsh behaviours, and adopting a facilitating and heraldry attitude, and these recommendations are included in the most basic sources of religion. The general situation of the addressee did not change the recommended language of religious education. When Allah Almighty sent Prophet Musa and his brother Harun to explain religion to Pharaoh, he said, "Speak softly to him, so that he may listen to advice or tremble and fear Allah's punishment and give up his anger." It is known that human beings are naturally inclined towards beauty and niceness. It is assumed that there is a way that affects people in aesthetics and beauty. The use of the impressive power of art and literature as a tool in religious education today plays an important role in the transmission of religious knowledge and moral messages. Art and literature, the language of our age, has been used as an effective method in religious education in history. Art and literature have been seen as a phenomenon that beautifies speech and behaviour, reveals wisdom and beauty, and enables the message to reach its addressee effectively. In our tradition, it has been accepted that the greatest artist is Allah, and it is believed that the beauties seen in the universe are a manifestation of Allah's attribute of "cemal". The language used, the way the message was delivered, the social position and psychological status of the people were seen as important factors in the power of religious messages. People who talk about religion are expected to present the beauties of religion and the wisdom of religious orders and prohibitions in a way that people can understand. It is seen that the Qur'an and hadiths, which are one of the important sources of religious education, have a unique style in terms of art and literature. The fact that the Prophet, who conveyed the Qur'an to people and explained it, spoke the Arabic language in the most beautiful way, his style and attitude while preaching the religion, indicating the importance of the language of religion. The inclusion of stories and stories in the content of the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and the use of literary arts such as metaphors and similes give clues about the language of religious education. Today, researching the use of art and literature, which are the languages of communication and interaction, in religious education makes the study important.