Fatwa Journal of Sheikh al-Islam Hodja Sâdeddin Efendi and analysis

Sâdeddin Efendi was born in 1536-37 in Istanbul during Kanuni era. His grandfather gained the trust of Yavuz Sultan Selim, and has received the title of "hâfız-ı mahsûs-ı sultanî" and his father has become the "nedim" of Yavuz. Sadeddin Efendi who received a good education has become famous as a 'hodja' and 'hodja efendi' after he was appointed to the teacher of Prince Murad. After being III. Murad the sultan, he has received the title of "hâce-i sultanî." Sâdeddin Efendi became the sheikh al-Islam in 1598, and he maintained this duty until his death in 1599. The journal we examined was composed by compiling the fatwas given by Sâdeddin Efendi during his duty as the sheikh al-Islam. The copyist and copy date of journal aren't known. Also, there is a single copy that we could detect. Sâdeddin Efendi based on a single opinion while he was giving the fatwa and he didn't specify the owner of this opinion. He sometimes has cited different opinions, and has prefered one of them or did not take any of them. In some cases he let the decision to the judge. Sâdeddin Efendi gave some information about the judging procedure in his fatwas. He stated that the judge had to obey the orders of sultan. He also stated that he could use his own discretion, and he warned the judge to take the customs in consideration. Sâdeddin Efendi sometimes stated that it was more appropriate to give fatwa with caution.