Islamic orthodoxy among the Ottomans in the seventeenth century with special reference to the Qadi-Zade movement

Abstract

This thesis treats in depth a hitherto little-known religious movement of seventeenth century Ottoman history, the Qädi-zäde movement. For its analysis, this study draws both on primary sources written in Arabic and Ottoman Turkish by the actual participants in this controversy and also on contemporary and near-contemporary historians who discuss the Qädi-zäde movement.

The first chapter offers a historical background to the movement and deals with relevant aspects of Ottoman society in the seventeenth century, paying particular attention to the moral and religious decline which had taken place. The second chapter presents a general account of the Ottoman 'ulamä' and their role in the Ottoman state, with special reference to the seventeenth century. The third chapter is devoted to an analysis of Ottoman Sufism and its place in the seventeenth century Ottoman society.

The fourth chapter discusses the origins of the Qädizäde movement and provides biographies of the movement's first leader and of his opponent, Siwäsi.

In the fifth chapter, an analysis of the second phase of the controversy is given and later leaders of the movement are discussed, whilst the sixth chapter deals with the third and final period of the movement and its aftermath and influence.

The seventh chapter covers in depth the controversial issues which formed the intellectual basis of the dispute between the Qädi-zädelis and their opponents, the Sufis.

The eighth chapter serves as a conclusion which offers an evaluation of the Qädi-zäde movement in the context of seventeenth century Ottoman society and discusses its implications for the long standing question of the definition of Islamic orthodoxy.