List of Sheikh-ul-Islams of the Ottoman Empire

The following is a list of Sheikh-ul-Islams of the Ottoman Empire.

After the foundation of the Empire around 1300, the title of Sheikh-ul-Islam, formerly used in the Abbasid Caliphate, was given to a leader authorized to issue legal opinion or fatwa. During the reign of Sultan Murad II, (1421-1444, 1446-1451) the position became an official title, with authority over other muftis in the Empire. In the late 16th century, Shaykh al-Islam were assigned to appoint and dismiss supreme judges, high ranking college professors, and heads of Sufi orders. Prominent figures include Zenbilli Ali Cemali Efendi (1445-1526), Ibn-i Kemal (Kemalpasazade) (1468-1533), Ebussuud Efendi (1491-1574) and al-Kawthari (1879-1952).^[1]

The Sheikh-ul-Islams' office was known as the Şeyhülislâm Kapısı, or the Bab-ı Meşihat, which before the Tanzimat was a large administrative office. Several departments were devoted to the legal systems in Anatolia and Rumeli, which were headed by Kazasker, or Sadr. With the death of Mahmud II, the Sheikh-ul-Islams' rank was checked only by the Grand Vizier or the Serasker. Inside this ministry was the Supreme Religious Court (Fetvahane-i Celile) making the Sheikh-ul-Islam the supreme jurisconsult (grand mufti), and as last resort of appeal from lower religious courts. Another department, headed by the ders vekili, supervised the training of ulema and the education of teachers in primary mektebs and secondary madrasas. The fetva emini would issue opinions and judgements. The imperial mint (Darphane), the Ministry of the Sultan's privy treasury (Hazine-i Hassa), the Ministry of Evkaf, and the administration of the holy cities' foundations all reported to the Sheikh-ul-Islam, though the 19th century would see these departments separate from the Bab-ı Meşihat.^[2]

List

During the existence of the office (from 1424 to 1922), there were in total 131 Sheikh-ul-Islams. The longest-serving officeholder was Ebussuud Efendi for 29 years, the shortest was Memikzade Mustafa Efendi for 13 hours.^[3]^[4]

1. Molla Şemseddin Fenari (1424–1430)
2. Molla Fahrettin Acemi (1430–1460)
3. Molla Hüsrev (1460–1480)
4. Molla Gürâni (1480–1488)
5. Molla Abdülkerim (1488–1495)
6. Alaettin Çelebi (1495–1496)
7. Efdalzade Hamidettin (1496–1503)
8. Zenbilli Muhammed Ali Effendi ben Ahmad ben Muhammad El Cemali (1503-1526) شيخ الإسلام أبي محمد بن أحمد بن محمد الجمالي
9. Kemalpaşazade Ahmet Şemsettin Efendi (Ibn-i Kemal) (1526–1534)
10. Sadullah Sadi Efendi (1534–1539)
11. Çivizade Muhittin Mehmet Efendi (1539–1542)
12. Hamidi Abdülkadir Efendi (1542–1543)
13. Fenerizade Muhittin Efendi (1543–1545)
14. Ebussuud Efendi ْٰخجا چلبی ابو السعود افندی(1545–1574)
15. Hamit Mahmut Efendi (1574–1577)
16. Kadızade Ahmet Şemsettin Efendi (1577–1580)
17. Malulzade Mehmet Efendi (1580–1582)
18. Çivizade Hacı Mehmet Efendi (1582–1587)
19. Müeyyetzade Abdülkadir Efendi (1587–1589)
20. Bostanzade Mehmet Efendi (1589–1592)
21. Bayramzade Hacı Zekeriya Efendi (1592–1593)
- Bostanzade Mehmet Efendi (1593–1598), 2nd time
22. Hoca Sadeddin Efendi (1598–1599)
23. Hacı Mustafa Sunullah Efendi (1599–1601)
24. Hocasadettinzade Mehmet Çelebi Efendi (1601–1603)
- Hacı Mustafa Sunullah Efendi (1603), 2nd time
25. Ebülmeyamin Mustafa Efendi (1603–1604)
- Hacı Mustafa Sunullah Efendi (1604–1606), 3rd time
- Ebülmeyamin Mustafa Efendi (1606), 2nd time
- Hacı Mustafa Sunullah Efendi (1606–1608), 4th time
- Hocasadettinzade Mehmet Çelebi Efendi (1608–1615), 2nd term
26. Hocazade Esad Efendi (1615–1622)
27. Zekeriyazade Yahya Efendi (1622–1623)
- Hocazade Esad Efendi (1623–1625), 2nd time
- Zekeriyazade Yahya Efendi (1625–1632), 2nd time
28. Ahizade Hüseyin Efendi (1632–1634)
- Zekeriyazade Yahya Efendi (1634–1644), 3rd time
29. Esatpaşazade Ebu Sait Mehmet Efendi (1644–1646)
30. Muid Ahmet Efendi (1646–1647)
31. Hacı Abdürrahim Efendi (1647–1649)
32. Bahai Mehmet Efendi (1649–1651)
33. Karaçelebizade Abdülaziz Efendi (1651)
34. Esatefendizade Ebu Sait Mehmet Efendi (1651–1652)
- Bahai Mehmet Efendi (1652–1654), 2nd term
- Esatefendizade Ebu Sait Mehmet Efendi (1654–1655), 2nd time
35. Hüsamzade Abdurrahman Efendi (1655–1656)
36. Memikzade Mustafa Efendi (1656)
37. Hocazade Mesut Efendi (1656)
38. Hanefi Mehmet Efendi (1656)
39. Balizade Mustafa Efendi (1656–1657)
40. Bolevi Mustafa Efendi (1657–1659)
41. Esiri Mehmet Efendi (1659–1662)
42. Sunizade Seyit Mehmet Emin Efendi (1662)
43. Minkarizade Yahya Efendi (1662–1674)
44. Çatalcalı Ali Efendi (1674–1686)
45. Ankaravi Mehmet Emin Efendi (1686–1687)
46. Debbağzade Mehmet Efendi (1687–1688)
47. Hacı Feyzullah Efendi (1688)
- Debbağzade Mehmet Efendi (1688–1690), 2nd time
48. Ebusaitzade Feyzullah Feyzi Efendi (1690–1692)
- Çatalcalı Ali Efendi (1692), 2nd time
- Ebusaitzade Feyzullah Feyzi Efendi (1692–1694), 2nd time
49. Sadık Mehmet Efendi (1694–1695)
50. İmam Mehmet Efendi (1695)
- Hacı Feyzullah Efendi (1695–1703), 2nd time
51. Paşmakçızade Seyit Ali Efendi (1703)
52. Yekçeşm Hüseyin Efendi (1703)
- İmam Mehmet Efendi (1703–1704), 2nd time
- Paşmakçızade Seyit Ali Efendi (1704–1707), 2nd term
- Sadık Mehmet Efendi (1707–1708), 2nd time
53. Ebezade Abdullah Efendi (1708–1710)
- Paşmakçızade Seyit Ali Efendi (1710–1712), 3rd term
- Ebezade Abdullah Efendi (1712–1713), 2nd term
54. Mehmet Ataullah Efendi (1713)
55. İmam Mahmut Efendi (1713–1714)
56. Mirza Mustafa Efendi (1714–1715)
57. Menteşzade Abdürrahman Efendi (1715–1716)
58. Ebu İshak İsmail Naim Efendi (1716–1718)
59. Yenişehirli Abdullah Efendi (1718–1730)
60. Mirzazade Şeyh Mehmet Efendi (1730–1731)
61. Paşmakçızade Abdullah Efendi (1731–1732)
62. Damatzade Ebulhayr Ahmet Efendi (1732–1733)
63. Ebuishakzade İshak Efendi (1733–1734)
64. Dürri Mehmet Efendi (1734–1736)
65. Seyit Mustafa Efendi (1736–1745)
66. Pirizade Mehmet Sahip Efendi (1745–1746)
67. Hayatizade Mehmet Emin Efendi (1746)
68. Seyit Mehmet Zeynelabidin Efendi (1746–1748)
69. Ebuishakzade Mehmet Esat Efendi (1748–1749)
70. Mehmet Sait Efendi (1749–1750)
71. Seyit Murtaza Efendi (1750–1755)
72. Abdullah Vassaf Efendi (1755)
73. Damatzade Feyzullah Efendi (1755–1756)
74. Dürrizade Mustafa Efendi (1756–1757)
- Damatzade Feyzullah Efendi (1757–1758), 2nd term
75. Mehmet Salih Efendi (1758–1759)
76. Çelebizade İsmail Asım Efendi (1759–1760)
77. Hacı Veliyettin Efendi (1760–1761)
78. Tirevi Ahmet Efendi (1761–1762)
- Dürrizade Mustafa Efendi (1762–1767), 2nd time
- Hacı Veliyettin Efendi (1767–1768), 2nd time
79. Pirizade Osman Sahip Efendi (1768–1770)
80. Mirzazade Seyit Mehmet Sait Efendi (1770–1773)
81. Şerifzade Seyit Mehmet Şerif Efendi (1773–1774)
- Dürrizade Mustafa Efendi (1774), 3rd time
82. İvazpaşazade İbrahim Bey Efendi (1774–1775)
83. Salihzade Mehmet Emin Efendi (1775–1776)
84. Vassafzade Mehmet Esat Efendi (1776–1778)
85. Mehmet Şerif Efendi (1778–1782)
86. Seyit İbrahim Efendi (1782–1783)
87. Dürrizade Seyit Mehmet Ataullah Efendi (1783–1785)
- İvazpaşazade İbrahim Bey Efendi (1785), 2nd time
88. Arapzade Ahmet Ataullah Efendi (1785)
89. Dürrizade Seyit Mehmet Arif Efendi (1785–1786)
90. Müftizade Ahmet Efendi (1786–1787)
91. Mekki Mehmet Efendi (1787–1788)
92. Seyit Mehmet Kamil Efendi (1788–1789)
- Mehmet Şerif Efendi (1789), 2nd time
93. Hamitzade Mustafa Efendi (1789–1791)
94. Seyit Yahya Tevfik Efendi (1791)
- Mekki Mehmet Efendi (1791–1792), 2nd time
- Dürrizade Seyit Mehmet Arif Efendi (1792–1798), 2nd time
95. Mustafa Aşir Efendi (1798–1800)
96. Sâmânizade Ömer Hulusi Efendi (1800–1803)
97. Salihzade Ahmet Esat Efendi (1803–1806)
98. Şerifzade Mehmet Ataullah Efendi (1806–1807)
- Sâmânizade Ömer Hulusi Efendi (1807), 2nd time
- Şerifzade Mehmet Ataullah Efendi (1807–1808), 2nd time
99. Arapzade Mehmet Arif Efendi (1808)
- Salihzade Ahmet Esat Efendi (1808), 2nd time
100. Dürrizade Seyit Abdullah Efendi (1808–1810)
- Sâmânizade Ömer Hulusi Efendi (1810–1812), 3rd time
- Dürrizade Seyit Abdullah Efendi (1812–1815), 2nd time
101. Mehmet Zeynelabidin Efendi (1815–1818)
102. Mekkizade Mustafa Asım Efendi (1818–1819)
103. Hacı Halil Efendi (1819–1821)
104. Yasincizade Abdülvehhap Efendi (1821–1822)
105. Sıtkızade Ahmet Reşit Efendi (1822–1823)
- Mekkizade Mustafa Asım Efendi (1823–1825), 2nd time
106. Kadızade Mehmet Tahir Efendi (1825–1828)
- Yasincizade Abdülvehhap Efendi (1828–1833), 2nd time
- Mekkizade Mustafa Asım Efendi (1833–1846), 3rd time
107. Ahmet Arif Hikmet Bey Efendi (1846–1854)
108. Meşrepzade Mehmet Arif Efendi (1854–1858)
109. Seyit Mehmet Sadettin Efendi (1858–1863)
110. Atıfzade Ömer Hüsamettin Efendi (1863–1866)
111. Hacı Mehmet Refik Efendi (1866–1868)
112. Hasan Fehmi Efendi (1868–1871)
113. Ahmed Muhtar Molla Bey Efendi (1871–1872)
114. Turşucuzade Ahmet Muhtar Efendi (1872–1874)
115. Hasan Hayrullah Efendi (1874)
- Hasan Fehmi Efendi (1874–1876), 2nd time
- Hasan Hayrullah Efendi (1876–1877), 2nd time
116. Kara Halil Efendi (1877–1878)
- Ahmed Muhtar Molla Bey Efendi (1878), 2nd time
117. Uryanizade Ahmed Esad Efendi (1878–1889)
118. Bodrumlu Ömer Lütfi Efendi (1889–1891)
119. Mehmet Cemaleddin Efendi (1891–1909)
120. Mehmet Ziyaettin Efendi [tr] (1909)
121. Mehmet Sahip Molla Bey Efendi [tr] (1909)
122. Çelebizade Hüseyin Hüsnü Efendi [tr] (1910)
123. Musa Kazım Efendi [tr] (1910–1911)
124. Abdurrahman Nesip Efendi [tr] (1911–1912)
- Mehmet Cemaleddin Efendi (1912–1913), 2nd time
125. Mehmet Esat Efendi (1913–1914)
126. Ürgüplü Mustafa Hayri Efendi (1914–1916)
- Musa Kazım Efendi (1916–1918), 2nd time
127. Ömer Hulusi Efendi (1918)
128. Haydarizade İbrahim Efendi (1918–1919)
129. Mustafa Sabri Efendi (1919)
- Haydarizade İbrahim Efendi (1919–1920), 2nd time
130. Dürrizade Abdullah Efendi (1920)
- Mustafa Sabri Efendi (1920), 2nd time
131. Medeni Mehmet Nuri Efendi (1920–1922)

References

^ Yurdakul, İlhami."Şeyhülislam (shaykhulislam)". Gábor Ágoston and Bruce Alan Masters, eds. Encyclopedia of the Ottoman Empire, pp. 524–25. Facts on File, 2009.
^ Shaw 1977, p. 74–75.
^ Yakut 2005, p38
^ For a list of şeyḫülislāmları, see Yakut 2005, pp. 242–247

Sources

Yakut, Esra. Şeyhülislamlık: yenileşme döneminde devlet ve din. Istanbul: Kitap Yayınevi, 2005. For a list of şeyḫülislāmları, see pp. 242–247.
Shaw, Stanford; Shaw, Ezel (1977). History of the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey. Vol. II. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-29166-6.

[1] Yurdakul, İlhami."Şeyhülislam (shaykhulislam)". Gábor Ágoston and Bruce Alan Masters, eds. Encyclopedia of the Ottoman Empire, pp. 524–25. Facts on File, 2009.

[FOOTNOTEShaw197774–75-2] Shaw 1977, p. 74–75.

[3] Yakut 2005, p38

[4] For a list of şeyḫülislāmları, see Yakut 2005, pp. 242–247

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

v t e Sheikh-ul-Islams of the Ottoman Empire
15th Century	Molla Fenari Fahreddin-i Acemi Molla Hüsrev Molla Gürâni Molla Abdülkerim Efendi Alâeddin Arabî Efendi Efdalzade Hamîdüddin Efendi
16th Century	Zenbilli Ali Efendi Kemalpaşazade Ahmet Şemsettin Efendi (İbn-i Kemal) Sadullah Sadi Efendi Çivizade Muhiddin Mehmed Efendi Abdülkadir Hamidî Çelebi Fenarîzade Muhyiddin Çelebi Ebussuud Efendi Çivizade Damadı Hamid Efendi Kadızade Ahmed Şemseddin Efendi Malûlzade Mehmed Efendi Çivizade Hacı Mehmed Efendi Abdülkadir Şeyhî Efendi Bostanzade Mehmed Efendi Bayramzade Zekeriya Efendi Hoca Sâdeddin Efendi Cafer Mustafa Sunullah Efendi
17th Century	Hocazade Mehmed Efendi Ebülmeyamin Mustafa Efendi Hocazade Esad Efendi Zekeriyazade Yahya Efendi Ahizade Hüseyin Efendi Ebusaid Mehmed Efendi Muid Ahmet Efendi Hacı Abdürrahim Efendi Bahai Mehmet Efendi Karaçelebizade Abdülaziz Efendi Hüsamzade Abdurrahman Efendi Memikzade Mustafa Efendi Hocazade Mesud Efendi Hanefi Mehmet Efendi Balizade Mustafa Efendi Bolevi Mustafa Efendi Esiri Mehmet Efendi Sunizade Seyit Mehmet Emin Efendi Minkarizade Yahya Efendi Çatalcalı Ali Efendi Ankaravi Mehmet Emin Efendi Debbağzade Mehmet Efendi Feyzullah Efendi Ebusaitzade Feyzullah Feyzi Efendi Sadık Mehmet Efendi İmam Mehmet Efendi
18th Century	Paşmakçızade Ali Efendi Yekçeşm Hüseyin Efendi Sadık Mehmet Efendi Ebezade Abdullah Efendi Mehmed Ataullah Efendi İmam Mahmud Efendi Mirza Mustafa Efendi Menteşzade Abdürrahman Efendi Ebu İshak İsmail Efendi Yenişehirli Abdullah Efendi Mirzazade Şeyh Mehmed Efendi Paşmakçızade Abdullah Efendi Damatzade Ebulhayr Ahmet Efendi Ebuishakzade İshak Efendi Dürri Mehmed Efendi Feyzullahzade Mustafa Efendi Pirizade Mehmed Sahib Efendi Hayatizade Mehmet Emin Efendi Seyit Mehmet Zeynelabidin Efendi Ebuishakzade Mehmed Esad Efendi Mehmed Said Efendi Seyyid Murtaza Efendi Abdullah Vassaf Efendi Damatzade Feyzullah Efendi Dürrizade Mustafa Efendi Mehmed Salih Efendi Çelebizade İsmail Asım Efendi Veliyyüddin Efendi Ebubekirzade Ahmed Efendi Pirizade Osman Sahib Efendi Mirzazade Seyit Mehmet Sait Efendi Şerifzade Seyit Mehmet Şerif Efendi Dürrizade Mustafa Efendi İvazpaşazade İbrahim Bey Efendi Salihzade Mehmet Emin Efendi Vassafzade Mehmet Esat Efendi Mehmet Şerif Efendi Seyit İbrahim Efendi Dürrizade Seyit Mehmet Ataullah Efendi İvazpaşazade İbrahim Bey Efendi Arapzade Ahmet Ataullah Efendi Dürrizade Seyit Mehmet Arif Efendi Müftizade Ahmet Efendi Mekkî Mehmet Efendi Seyit Mehmet Kamil Efendi Hamitzade Mustafa Efendi Seyit Yahya Tevfik Efendi Mustafa Aşir Efendi
19th Century	Sâmânizade Ömer Hulusi Efendi Salihzade Ahmed Esad Efendi Şerifzade Ataullah Mehmed Efendi Arapzade Mehmed Arif Efendi Dürrizade Abdullah Efendi Mehmed Zeynelabidin Efendi Mekkizade Mustafa Asım Efendi Çerkes Halil Efendi Yasincizade Abdülvehhab Efendi Ahmed Reşid Efendi Kadızade Mehmed Tahir Efendi Ahmed Arif Hikmet Bey Efendi Meşrepzade Mehmed Arif Efendi Mehmed Sadeddin Efendi Atıfzade Hüsameddin Efendi Mehmed Refik Efendi Hasan Fehmi Efendi Ahmed Muhtar Molla Bey Efendi Turşucuzade Ahmed Muhtar Efendi Hasan Hayrullah Efendi Hasan Fehmi Efendi Hasan Hayrullah Efendi Kara Halil Efendi Uryanizade Ahmed Esad Efendi Bodrumlu Ömer Lütfi Efendi Mehmet Cemaleddin Efendi
20th Century	Mehmed Ziyâeddin Efendi Mehmed Sahib Efendi Çelebizade Hüseyin Hüsnü Efendi Musa Kazım Efendi Abdurrahman Nesib Efendi Mehmed Esad Efendi Ürgüplü Mustafa Hayri Efendi Ömer Hulusi Efendi Haydarizade İbrahim Efendi Mustafa Sabri Efendi Dürrizade Abdullah Beyefendi Medeni Mehmed Nuri Efendi