Distinguished Prof. Dr. Mehmet Şerafeddin Yaltkaya was born in Istanbul in 1879. After finishing his elementary education, he memorized the Quran. He graduated from Davutpaşa junior high school and school of teacher education for boys.

He continued to take lessons in the mosque. He took interpretation of Quran lessons from Manastırlı İsmail Hakkı Bey who was a madrasa teacher (dersiam) in Fatih and makalat (Hacı Bektaş Veli’s most important work that praises humankind and mentions blessings given to mankind) lessons from Şirvanlı Halis Efendi.

 

He began his teaching career in a school called “Dar’ül-İlim ve Ta’lim” in 1909. He gave religion lessons in different high schools for 28 years in the following years.

 

In 1924 he became a professor of history of theological philosophy at Dar’ül-Fünun(Ottoman University) Faculty of Theology and a distinguished professor of Islam and its Philosophy. After being a professor for 18 years, he was appointed President of the Directorate of Religious Affairs in 1942. He has written more than 60 works. His articles were published in many magazines like Sebilü’rreşat, Beyânü’l Hak, Mihrâb, İlahiyat and İslâm. He passed away on April 23, 1947.