Throughout Islamic history, various interpretive differences have existed
within Islamic thought. These differences have arisen not only from
factors related to human modes of reasoning and approaches to understanding
religious texts, but also from social, cultural, geographical,
and political conditions. As a result of such interpretive divergences,
numerous sects (madhhab), factions (firqa), and religious movements
have emerged.
In this study, the group commonly referred to in Türkiye as the “19ers”
is examined as a contemporary Islamic movement. The study aims to
introduce this group by addressing the circumstances of its emergence,
its historical background, its presence in Türkiye, and its activities. As
a contemporary Islamic community, the 19ers’ understanding of religion,
their approach to interpreting religious sources, and the so-called
Mathematical Code 19 that they advocate are analyzed. In addition, the
proponents of the Mathematical 19 system and the nature of their influence
within Türkiye are discussed.
The central claim of the 19ers examined in this study is that the Qurʾān
is divinely preserved through a mathematical code. Rashad Khalifa (d.
1990), an Egyptian biochemist who transferred the Qurʾānic text into a
computerized format, asserted that the Qurʾān is mathematically encoded.
While these claims have been accepted by certain circles worldwide,
they have also found supporters in Türkiye, where some individuals
adopted and actively defended this view. The figure who introduced
this movement to Türkiye and became one of the most prominent advocates
of this approach is Edip Yüksel. Influenced by Rashad Khalifa in
the 1980s, Edip Yüksel advanced a radical claim by adopting the notion
that “the Qurʾān Alone Is Sufficient,” thereby rejecting the entirety of
the Islamic tradition. Within this framework, the 19ers have not accepted
the Sunnah as a binding religious source and have subjected it to
sharp criticism.
Arising from the fundamental assertion that “the Qurʾānic text is encoded
and preserved through a mathematical system based on the number
19,” the adherents of this perspective have, over time, developed
distinctive positions on several key issues. These include the religious
authority of the Sunnah and ḥadīth literature, an alternative approach
to Qurʾānic exegesis, a negative stance toward the Sufi tradition, the
utilization of scientific data and certain technological developments as
sources of religious validation, and practical religious applications that
diverge from widely accepted norms. Consequently, the 19ers appear
to have assumed the characteristics of an independent Islamic religious
community or movement.
Keywords: Rashad Khalifa; Yüksel Edip; Mathematical System; 19ers;
Nineteen