In light of the Meşihat archival documents, the bureaucratic structure of the Şeyhülislamlik (The office of the Sheikh al-Islam)

The Ottoman Empire institutionalized Şeyhülislamlık (the office of the Sheikh alIslam) which was inherited from the previous Islamic states. In 1826 the Janissary corps was abolished and the Şeyhülislamlık existing since the beginning of the empire was transferred into a new, permanent, and private space. In line with the Tanzimat reforms of other state institutions, the Şeyhülislamlık attained a position in the state's bureaucratic structure and was systematically reorganized. Throughout the historical process it became a social complex with religious, legal, and educational units, and executed the tasks of today's the Presidency of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Education. Şeyhülislamlık, due to changes in the state structure some of its duties, responsibilities, and authorities were assigned to the newly founded ministries. As of its location by 1924 it was used first by the Istanbul Muftiship, then Istanbul Girl High School, and then Istanbul University Botanic Institute. The Meşihat Archive which holds the scholarly heritage of the Şeyhülislamlık is the most valuable resource carrying the bureaucratic structure, organizational system, and diplomatical writings of the institution to this day. The architectural structure of the buildings, the bureaucratic structure of the institute and its functioning are carried to the present by the archival records of the Şeyhülislamlık institution. In this dissertation, in light of the Şeyhülislamlık documents the institutionalization of the Şeyhülislamlık, its bureaucratic structure and organizational scheme are examined, and the registries of the Meşihat Archive are uncovered. Keywords: Şeyhülislamlık (the office of the Sheikh al-Islam), the Meşihat Archive, bureaucratic structure, fatwa, Sheikh al-Islam