Waqf problems and their solutions in the axis of Haramayn Awqaf Inspectorate Records (1587-1615)

At the end of the 16th century in the Ottoman Empire, with the establishment of the Haramayn Awqaf Ministry, an important regulation was made in the administration of waqfs established by dynasties and statesmen, especially Haramayn waqfs. Because, in this period, the administration of the dynasty and statesman waqfs, as well as the Haramayn waqfs established by common people (reaya) was entrusted to the Haramayn Awqaf Ministry, which was headed by Darussaade Aga and under him were various departments. Immediately after the establishment of the Ministry, large-scale inspection activities began for the Haramayn waqf and the other waqfs. In this process, numerous orders and edicts (ferman) were issued to eliminate the problems in the administration of the waqfs and to prevent abuses, if any. The Haramayn Inspectorate, one of the units established within the Haramayn Awqaf Ministry, was obliged to follow all the sharia transactions and to listen to their cases of the waqfs under the administration of the Ministry. In addition, the inspectors were also responsible for checking the surrah books, the income and expenditure records of the waqfs, and the accounts of the trustees. Although there is a general opinion that the Haramayn Inspectorate was established together with the Haramayn Awqaf Ministry, when the archive records are examined, it is understood that it was established after the Ministry. In this study, based on the records kept by the Inspectorate itself and archival sources, both the institutional structure of the Haramayn Inspectorate and the identities of the first four inspectors who served after its establishment are determined. In addition, the working procedures of the Haramayn trustees who served under the Ministry were revealed. The types of lawsuits related to waqfs and the solutions of waqf issues are also highlighted, as well as the details of leases, repairs and explorations. In the study, besides the Haramayn Inspectorate records, other archival documents and works of Islamic law were also used.