Usullari

Usullari is a Turkish term that refers to methods, principles, or methodological approaches used within a field of study or practice. The form usulları, the standard Turkish spelling, combines the noun usul (method, principle) with the plural suffix -ler and the possessive suffix -ı to yield “their methods” or “the methods.” In English-language or ASCII texts, the word is often rendered as usullari.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from the Arabic root usul, meaning foundations, principles, or established methods, and has been incorporated into Turkish scholarly and everyday language. In Turkish discourse, usullari can denote the general approach to inquiry, the framework used to organize knowledge, or specific procedural rules within a discipline.

In Islamic jurisprudence, a well-known usage is fiqh usulları (principles of Islamic jurisprudence), which outlines the methodological rules for deriving legal rulings from primary sources such as the Quran and Hadith, as well as secondary sources like consensus and analogical reasoning. This usage highlights how a defined set of principles guides interpretation and decision-making in a legal-religious context.

Beyond jurisprudence, usullari appears in broader Turkish academic and professional contexts to describe research methods, methodological approaches, or standard procedures in fields such as science, social science, and humanities. It can also refer to conventions or accepted practices within a particular profession.

See also: usul (principle, method), yöntem (method), metodoloji (methodology).