ISAR Sciences in the Ottoman Empire Symposium Series II
Ottoman Fiqh: Scholars, Works, and Problems
24-25 December 2016
The inherent understanding prevalent in academic works concerning Islamic culture and civilization was based on the assumption that Islamic thought since the Middle Ages had lost its productivity. It became widely accepted as a result of this perspective that the field of Islamic sciences had undergone—optimistically speaking—a period of stagnation throughout the duration of the Ottoman era since the medieval period until the modern age. Revisionist/critical studies conducted in recent years have, however, questioned these assumptions. Going beyond reductive conceptualizations as in productivity and stagnation, there is a felt need towards understanding the accumulation of Islamic knowledge and culture of the Ottoman era in the context of its own tradition. As an extension to this approach, ISAR has organized a series of scholarly forums in an attempt to redefine the Ottoman scholarly tradition as having taken a multi-layered approach in both the context of Islamic sciences and world intellectual history. The first symposium of the series dealt with research on the oft-discussed regression/stagnation discourse of 'Ilm al-Kalām in the Ottoman era. The second forum will focus on the fiqhī heritage in the Ottoman era.
Fiqh, as its subject of study, deals with human behavior, and because of this it has always been in direct correspondence with life activities, which, as a consequence, has witnessed the development of fiqh into a rather dynamic science. With the appearance of the madhāhib at center stage, the science of fiqh has systematically sustained its development for centuries by serving as a primary source in matters related to whether it be state organization or administration, or issues related to people's daily lives. In the Ottoman Empire, in consideration of fiqh to have been ascertained as both a field of application and a subject of theoretical inquiry, the science of fiqh in this period within its developmental stages is indicative of it having possessed a peculiar place. Therefore, the examination of the Ottoman Empire's theoretical and applied fiqh aspects, in light of its extended presence until the modern era, is an area of study that is unique and requires much needed elaboration. For throughout the state's long history, Ottoman scholars are seen to have made significant contributions in the development of the science of fiqh, and this was evident whether it was amending existing fiqh legislation or incorporating this accumulation of knowledge into their own works. However, it would be difficult to say, apart from some exceptions, that knowledge of Ottoman fiqh until now has been studied in any serious depth.
This symposium aims to address the largely overlooked fiqh tradition and contributions of Ottoman scholars. In this respect, starting with the establishment of the Ottoman state until the Majallah, the discussed fiqhi problems during this time frame, the penned works in this area, and the emerging establishments and Ottoman fiqh scholars of the time will be among the main issues to be addressed at the symposium. This forum which will deal with the fiqhī heritage from the establishment of the Ottoman state until the Tanzimat, will be accepting original and qualified papers from the following outlined example topics:
- Fuqahā, their careers
- Fiqhī madhhabs
- Affiliations
- Fuqahās' biographies and intellectual networks
- 'Ilm al-fiqh, its influence on education and social life
- Fiqh and its relationship with other shar‘î and rational sciences
- Fiqh literature: Fatawas, commentaries, annotations and treatises
- 'Ilm al-fiqh in the madrasah curriculum
- Fiqh, politics, economics, etc. related issues
- Original contributions to fiqh during the Ottoman period
- Place and importance of Ottoman fiqh experience in the general legal debates
Papers from those presented will be selected after the symposium and will be published as a separate book.
The language of the symposium which will take place in Istanbul will be in Turkish, English, and Arabic.
Abstracts are to be kept to a maximum of 250 words.
Abstracts -contact information of applicants along with academic CVs- are to be sent to symposium@isar.org.tr
Important Dates
Submission of Abstracts: 1 June 2016
Announcement of Accepted Papers: 10 June 2016
Submission of Completed Papers: 15 November 2016
Date of Symposium: 24-25 December 2016
Symposium Website: sempozyum.isar.org.tr
Organizing Committee:
Prof. Dr. Murteza BEDİR
Prof. Dr. Erol ÖZVAR
Prof. Dr. Şükrü Özen
Prof. Dr. Recep ŞENTÜRK
Assoc. Prof. Necmettin KIZILKAYA