Usuller

Usuller is the Turkish plural form of usul, a term that broadly translates as methods, procedures, or principles. The word derives from Arabic usul, meaning foundations or bases, and in Turkish it is used to refer to systematic approaches across different fields.

In law and jurisprudence, usul denotes the methodological principles that guide interpretation and reasoning, effectively the framework for legal argument and procedure. In education and research, it refers to standard methods of inquiry, data collection, and analysis. In Turkish music, particularly its classical and Ottoman traditions, usul designates rhythmic cycles and patterns that structure performance. In religious studies, phrases such as usul al-fiqh describe the rules used to derive legal rulings.

Usage is highly contextual, with scholars typically specifying the domain to indicate the methodological area. Examples include hukuk usulleri (procedural or disciplinary methods in law) and fıkıh usulleri (principles of Islamic jurisprudence), among others such as edebiyat usulleri (literary methods). The term functions as a flexible umbrella for the underlying approaches that organize thought, study, or practice within a given field.

Related concepts include usul al-fiqh, procedural or methodological law, and various domain-specific usuller that distinguish general principles from domain-specific rules.