Abstract:

Hasan Fehmi Efendi is a lawyer, who served twice as a Sheikh al-Islam after the Tanzimat. He was born in Ilgın and went to madrasah in Konya. He entered the class of Ilmiye and he has been Sheikh al-Islam which is the highest authority of this class. His life gives information about law profession and political events of the period. Hasan Fehmi Efendi has done all the duties that an ilmiye member can do. He worked as müderris, qadi and Sheikh al-Islam. Archival documents, works related to the ilmiye and the legal professions, biographical works and sources of history includes information about subject. Hasan Fehmi Efendi’s life is a success story of a young man from the countryside. It summarizes a lawyer’s life in the Ottoman state. It shows political conroversies caused by reform efforts. Hasan Fehmi Efendi has had the effect as a Sheikh al-Islam of the period on the opening and closing of Darulfunun and the process of preperation of Mecelle. He gives a lot of fatwas which give information about legal and social life of the period.

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