Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Graduate Scholarships 2023 - 24

Scholarship Supporting Statement

Please ensure the statement is uploaded together with your graduate application form.

Supporting Statement
Surname: OKSUZLER

First name(s): OMER

Proposed programme of study: Master of Business Administration MBA

Please answer the 3 questions below using the space provided. Please do not add additional pages, the text box
will expand as you type. Before uploading please sign the declaration at the bottom.

1. Please explain, in a maximum of 500 words, how your proposed studies at the University of Oxford are of
relevance to the Muslim world.

I, as a Muslim, love and try to apply the Sharia of Mohammed (‫ )ﷺ‬in my life. I do not pursue to spread the
message of Mohammed (‫ )ﷺ‬by disturbing people but by getting to know each other and making visible the
virtues of Mohammed (‫ )ﷺ‬by trying to apply his Sunnah in my life. It is every Muslim’s first duty to first
complete their own faith and then try to communique Allah (‫ )ﷻ‬and his most beloved Mohammed’s (‫)ﷺ‬
commandments to others in the most peaceful way. Islam is a religion of peace and of respect to one another
which is the first virtue I try to apply to my life. Unfortunately, Islam is presented by many wrong doers today
like all the terrorist groups in the world. These terrorist groups like al qaeda or isis do not represent Islam in
any way and it is heart breaking that the world knows Islam by looking at these diabolic entities. To be able to
establish trust between individuals, the individuals will need assurance as to why they should trust each other
and being an Oxford MBA graduate is a relatively favourable reference. The MBA programme will help me
widen my understanding of the world, develop networking and ultimately be a better person. In this respect,
to be able to rightfully represent Islam and to be one of the reasons of that even a single person is met with
Islam is priceless. I will try to personify Islam at every chapter of my life for this purpose. Whether I’m in
Oxford or in Turkey, or at any “random” place in the world.

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Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Graduate Scholarships 2023 - 24

Scholarship Supporting Statement

2. Please explain, in a maximum of 300 words, how you would like your ideal career to develop over the next
ten years.
I’m currently in a more technological position in the Fortune 500 company I work for. I work as a Senior Software
Quality Engineer. I try to apply this specific engineering perspective to my life. For example, I like to think soul
as a software and our body as hardware. Testing is one of the core elements of science. Testing is, in its roots,
asking a question to an authority and getting the answers. To elaborate, in physics, scientists, ask a question to
the universe (like what happens if I drop this mass from 10m). What the scientists do is testing. What I do
professionally is on a much smaller scale. I ask the software what happens if I click this button and the software
replies to me. This thought of I’m doing science is what makes me love my profession. I’d like that if my
profession would take a turn to a more managerial way because I love to interact with people and know about
their story. I hope to consolidate my technical background with this more social part of me in the future.

3. Please review the OCIS website, www.oxcis.ac.uk, and explain, in a maximum of 300 words, how you might
contribute to the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies community as a scholar and after you leave Oxford?

I browsed your website and I’m just remarkably grateful and delighted there exists such an undertaking. Even
if I don’t get this scholarship I’m so happy that another brother or sister will have access to this scholarship.
I’ve examined some of your publications and seminars and research about Islamic Finance and the just cause
of our Palestinian brothers and sisters. I hope to contribute to this great society you represent in the humblest
ways I can and be another voice for the cause. I was named after the second caliphate Omar (‫ )رضي هللا عنه‬and
Insha'Allah I can live up to the standards raised by Omar (‫هللا عنه‬
‫)رضي ي‬.
Declaration:

I confirm that the information included in this statement is complete and accurate, to the best of my knowledge.

Candidates who are ordinarily resident in the UK only:

If your current country of ordinary residence is the UK (as stated on your Oxford graduate application form),
please tick the box to confirm you are from a Muslim community

Signed: Omer OKSUZLER Date: 12.11.2022