Political power, ulemâ and sûfîyye (Relations, problems)

In what kind of environment and with which interdependent expectations did the Ottoman central government ulamâ and the sûfîyye establish relations? How are the results of these relations reflected in the social life? This study aims to contribute to the relations of the Ottoman central administration with the ulamâ and the sûfîyye by trying to reveal answers for the questions raised within the scope of the period starting from the foundation years of the state to the end of the reign of Mehmed the Second. The reason for the limiting time period of the subject to the end of the reign of Fatih is that some developments in this period were important turning points in terms of the related issues. Within the scope of the study, firstly, a general evaluation of the main sources of the subject and modern research are addressed. In the introduction part, what kind of relations the ulamâ and the sûfîyye between political authorities had in the pre-Ottoman period is examined. The following chapters focus on the consequences of the Ottoman central government, along with the relations it established with the ulamâ and the sûfîyye, and the dimensions reflected in the social life. In the fourth part, the relations between the ulamâ and the sûfîyye are discussed, with an effort to show how their relationship were with the Ottoman central administration and their reflection on the society. In the conclusion part, general remarks on the research topic has been made. To put it briefly, during this period, the Ottoman administration tried to establish close relations with the ulamâ and the sûfîyye, and did not ignore them due to their spiritual influence over the people, unless they were perceived/emerged as a threat to the authority. Primarily, these close relations provided the administration with legitimacy in the eyes of society and in return, the ulamâ and the sûfîyye gained freedom in their ways of life and rituals and attained various material opportunities.