Sheikh al-İslam molla Arab (D. 901 / 1496) and an examination of his fatwa collection

This thesis examines as a historical text the collection of fatwas emerging from those given by Molla Arab (d. 901/1496) while serving as sheikh al-Islam. This fatwa collection is characterized as has the earliest dated collection known so far within the fatwa collections from Ottoman sheikh al-Islam. This collection is distinct from collections compiled after the 16th century due to its formal characteristics concerning fatwas' structure and language and is representative of the period before the Ottoman fatwa bureaucracy became systematic. Because of these features, Molla Arab's fatwa collection can be described as a work from the transition period. Examples that reflect the traces of this transition period are its bilingual form (Ottoman-Arabic language), the form of the fatwas, the length of answers, and a lack of systematically presenting topics. This study has been conducted on one primary source, examining the entire collection based on the copy from Suleymaniye Library. Molla Arab's life, the formal characteristics of his collection, the fatwas' contents and the individuality of the collection are the main parts of this study. The historical figures, places used, social events, family issues and economic relations in the fatwas have been taken into consideration while presenting the individuality of the collection. The fatwas' issues and concepts are given under these headings have been interpreted and presented to the reader. As a result of this study, an example can be seen of an Ottoman collection of 15th century fatwas from an Ottoman sheikh al-Islam.