Negative Activities of The Scientists ın The Ottoman Empire (1595-1605)

Year 2024, , 43 - 64, 30.06.2024

İbrahim Tamar

https://doi.org/10.52735/bellek.1497298

Abstract

The influence of scientists on the Ottoman Empire’s transformation from a small principality to a great empire is very important. These people, who were educated in madrasas, played an imported role in strengthening the state and increasing the level of peace of the society. When the sheikhulislam, qadı and muderris, who can be considered as scientists, were ethical and gave importance to justice, the state strenghened its power day by day and the society continued to live in prosperity. As a matter of fact, the sheikhulislam had the right to judge even the sultan and grand vizier. Qadıs were charged with educating students. Thus, it can be said that the quality of these individuals was directly related to the progress of the state and the peaceful life of the people. This has already been clearly seen in the Ottoman history. When scientists always improved themselves and were open to innovations, succes was achieved in many fields. However, it can not always be said that the majority of these people consist of meritorious people.
Especially from the middle of the 16th century onwards, the madrasah system started to deteriorate. Many people were recruited to madrasas, which was an important intitution, with bribes and many people who weren’t talented graduated from these schools. Thus, the quality of those who graduated from madrasas began to decline day by day. Therefore, The Ottoman State started to lose its former power and the welfare level of the people decreased. Because the positions to which the graduates of these schools were appointed directly affected the lives of many people. It is recorded that incompetent and uninformed judges, müderris and teachers committed many offences. These people, who committed crimes such as taking bribes, theft and murder, not only harmed other people but also represented both the Ottoman state and Islamic religion in a bad way. Revealing the negative activities of these people is very important both in terms of understanding the crisis that the Ottoman state experienced in some periods and in terms of seeing that the orders of the Islamic religion were violated. In this way, it will be better understood whether the main cause of their problems was the laws of the state, the orders of the Islamic religion or the passions, of the individuals themselves.
Since the 16th century, the number of scientists, who carried out actions that would harm the society has been increasing. Studies have been conducted on the nagative activities of these people. However, no study has been conducted to examine the negative actions of scientists between 1595-1605 by making use of both the muhımme books, in wich the decisions taken at the meetings of the divan-ı humayun were recorded, and other Ottoman archival records. Providing new information by utilising these sources will constitute the original aspect of this study. As a matter of fact, many crimes were committed by qadı and his assistants, madrasah teachers and madrasah students during the years mentioned. In particular, it is observed that although many qadı officials were appointed to judge people in the courts and ensure justice, they did the opposite. It has been determined that there were many qadı officials who committed in justices, took bribes, committed theft, travelled from village to village collecting taxes on behalf of the state and taking this Money for themselves and organising attacks on people. In addition, these people sometimes increased their power even more by acting in co-operation with their own assistants or bandits. Apart from the kadis, many students who didn’t come to the madrasas to learn knowledge also formed gangs and carried out negative activities in the late 16th century. Madrasa students, who were outwardly thought to be scholars, raided many people’s houses, kidnapped children, committed theft, murder and rebelled against the state. Although fewer in number then the qadı and madrasa students, muderris and imams also engaged in many immoral activities. As a result, these people prevented the state from gaining power, showed that they weren’t worthy of their positions, and lived a life contradictory to the religion they believed in.
This study aims to provide information about many scientists who lived between 1595-1605 and carried out negative activities by using the document analysis method. With the new information provided, it will be possible to comment on many issues. For example, it will be seen why the Ottoman state started to lose its power over time and the number of scientists who lived a life far away from the commandments of Islam despite represinting the Islamic religion will increase dy bay day.

Keywords

Ottoman Empire, Ilmiye Class, Qadı, Muderris, Suhte, Negative Activities

OSMANLI DEVLETİ'NDE İLİM EHLİNİN MENFİ FAALİYETLERİ (1595-1605)

Abstract

Osmanlı’nın zaman içerisinde küçük bir beylikten dünyaya hükmeden bir imparatorluğa dönüşmesinde, ilim ehli kimselerin büyük etkisi yadsınamaz. Medreselerden yetişip önemli makamlara gelen ilim sahibi insanlar, devletin güç kazanmasında ve toplumun refah seviyesinin yükselmesinde daima önemli bir role sahip olmuşlardır. Nitekim kazanılan başarılar, bilimsel gelişmeler ve reayanın huzur seviyesi; şeyhülislam, kadı ve müderrislerin liyakatiyle doğrudan ilişkili bir durum olarak telakki edilebilir. Bu kimseler adaleti tesis etmeye çalıştıklarında, nitelikli insanlar yetiştirmek için canla başla uğraştıklarında ve sürekli kendilerini geliştirdiklerinde; Osmanlı topraklarındaki insanlar daha az sorun yaşamış ve devlet her geçen gün gücüne güç katmıştır. Ancak bu verimli sistem varlığını uzun süre devam ettirememiştir.
Bilhassa 16. yüzyılın ikinci yarısından itibaren medrese sisteminde tedricen bozulmalar başlamış, iltimas yaygınlaşmış ve kendi ihtirasları doğrultusunda hareket eden insan sayısı artış göstermiştir. Böylelikle devletin, zamanla eski gücünü kaybettiği ve toplumun da eski günlerdeki gibi huzur içerisinde yaşam sürmesinin zorlaşmaya başladığı söylenebilir. Bu durumun yaşanmasında ilmiye sınıfına mensup çok sayıda kimse baş rolde olmuştur. Birçok kadı, müderris ve suhtenin insanlara örnek olmak bir yana çok ağır suçlar işlediği kayıtlara geçmiştir. Bu kimselerin işlediği adam kayırma, cinayet, hırsızlık ve rüşvetçilik gibi daha birçok suç yalnızca kendilerine ve zulmedilen insanlara zarar vermemiş, aynı zamanda Osmanlı Devleti ve İslam dini kötü bir şekilde temsil edilmiştir. Bu sebeple ilim insanı olarak bilinen kişilerin menfi eylemlerinin açığa çıkarılması, hem Osmanlı devletinin belli dönemlerde yaşadığı buhranı anlayabilmek hem de İslam dininin emirlerinin dışına çıkıldığını görebilmek açısından oldukça önemlidir. Ele alınan bu çalışmada; 1595-1605 yılları arasında yaşamış olan ilim insanlarının olumsuz eylemleri incelenecektir. Söz konusu kimselerin gerçekleştirdiği olumsuz faaliyetlerin kaydedildiği mühimme defterleri, çalışmanın odak noktasını teşkil edecektir.

Keywords

Osmanlı Devleti, İlmiye Sınıfı, Kadı, Müderris, Suhte, Menfi Faaliyetler

References

• 73 Numaralı Mühimme Defteri
• 74 Numaralı Mühimme Defteri
• 75 Numaralı Mühimme Defteri
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