Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 109

Became the Sultan of Osman – Episode 109

Religion (2)

Shaykh al-Islām [The highest religious authority in the Ottoman Empire]

Sheikh means a tribal leader or religious leader, and al- is a definite article commonly found in Arabic, like ‘the’ in English.

In essence, it meant the leader of Islam, overseeing all matters related to Islam within the Ottoman Empire.

He appointed Qadis [Islamic judges], who were judges ruling on Islamic law, advised the Sultan on religious matters, and also played a role in legitimizing government policies.

The opinion of an Islamic scholar on Islamic law is called a fatwa [a legal ruling], which means to justify the Sultan’s actions.

As such, 젠빌리 Ali Efendi was well aware of how things were going, given his many responsibilities and broad perspective.

“So, the time has finally come.”

His wrinkled eyes revealed complex emotions.

젠빌리 had hoped that Yusuf’s reputation, which had risen to the Sultan’s position by predicting earthquakes, would diminish over time.

However, this was a complete miscalculation, and the Sultan’s reputation rapidly grew. Just look at the crowds that came to welcome him back recently.

The fact that so many people voluntarily abandoned their livelihoods to gather was akin to worship.

“Shaykh al-Islām.”

“I know. I must go since the Padishah [Ottoman Sultan] has summoned me.”

젠빌리 replied to the Ulama [Islamic scholars], who were urging him on, and rose to his old feet.

Many felt that the empire was on the verge of change, and it seemed that the first step would begin with religion.

젠빌리 looked up at the magnificent dome of Hagia Sophia, which had stood for a thousand years.

Just as Hagia Sophia, once a cathedral, had been transformed into a mosque over time, nothing in the world remains unchanged forever.

***

Yusuf stopped adjusting his gun and looked up.

“Did you come alone?”

“Yes, Padishah.”

Yusuf nodded at 젠빌리’s words as he knelt alone before him.

The reason why he didn’t bring a string of Ulama or Qadis like last time was obvious.

It meant that he would take all the responsibility and infamy for everything that would happen from now on.

“젠빌리 Ali Efendi, you were chosen by my father.”

“That is correct.”

To embrace various cultures and religions, the Ottoman Empire operated the Millet system [separate legal courts pertaining to different religious communities], in which citizens were governed by their respective religious communities.

Instead, they were deeply involved in the selection of leaders of each religion. In the case of the Orthodox Patriarch, who was elected by election, they made sure to appoint people who suited their tastes.

The Shaykh al-Islām was directly appointed and even dismissed.

“What kind of person was my father in your eyes?”

“He was a man of deep faith. He was definitely someone who would go to Allah’s bosom.”

“Indeed, he was a faithful man.”

It wasn’t for nothing that he was nicknamed the Righteous Bayezid.

“You must have been disappointed by my attitude after succeeding such a father.”

“How could that be?”

“Then you will be disappointed from now on.”

With those words, Yusuf turned his gaze back to the gun he was holding.

Tahhir, who made the gun, was embarrassed because it was the first flintlock gun he had made, and said he would make a new one, but Yusuf refused.

It was clearly a crude and lacking gun, but it had been a comrade since the first battle.

“This is the gun I’ve been using since the first battle. How many times do you think I’ve shot this gun?”

“I don’t think you’ve shot it much.”

“You’re right. I’ve only shot it a handful of times.”

He was a prince from birth and is now a Sultan.

Such a person was rarely thrown into the middle of a dangerous battlefield, and he had few opportunities to use weapons.

“I haven’t actually used it much, but this gun has many scratches. No matter how carefully you treat it, tools eventually wear out. So, what do you think religion is to me?”

“…What is it?”

“It’s a tool.”

젠빌리, who had anticipated the obvious answer, smiled bitterly.

젠빌리 was not so ignorant of the world as to feel miserable.

In a way, the Shaykh al-Islām is the position that moves to the forefront when the Sultan uses Islam.

However, it was surprising that he said those words directly, and 젠빌리 tried to speak calmly.

“Do you mean that religion is old and needs to be replaced with something new, as you said last time?”

“I’m just reminding you of your limitations once again. There is nothing eternal in this world.”

“Allah is absolute and unchanging.”

“Allah does not change, but believers do.”

젠빌리 stared at Yusuf for a while before sighing.

He didn’t completely agree with Yusuf’s words. He just acknowledged that he was in an irresistible flow.

“What if I resist the Padishah’s will?”

“I’ll use an easy method. There are many who can be my hands and feet besides you.”

The Shaykh al-Islām can be replaced at any time, and he means that he will appoint someone who suits his taste.

After a moment of silence, 젠빌리 bowed his head.

“I will follow the Padishah’s will.”

“Are you sure? I acknowledge that you have done a lot for the empire so far. I won’t make an issue even if you step down now.”

That’s how all changes are.

If there are those who welcome it, there are also those who oppose it, and their criticism will be directed at the relatively easy-going Shaykh al-Islām, not the noble Sultan.

젠빌리 shook his head at Yusuf’s consideration to step down without tarnishing his reputation.

“What difference does it make if the reputation of an old man who doesn’t know when he will die is tarnished?”

“Those closest to you will turn their backs on you first.”

Those who opposed the twisting of Islam centered around Yusuf had gathered around 젠빌리.

Those who have been in close contact recently were those who opposed the change of Islam, and they will point their swords at the traitors.

젠빌리 gave an unexpected answer to Yusuf’s point.

“They are the ones I gathered because I wanted them to.”

“젠빌리?”

“Even if Islam within the empire is shaken, the empire must not be shaken.”

This was quite surprising.

Even though it was a position that moved according to the Sultan’s taste, it was because a devout Muslim uttered these words.

젠빌리 burst into a light laugh at Yusuf’s reaction.

“Don’t be surprised. It’s because I think Islam is safer in the arms of the empire.”

The Quran speaks of peace and coexistence when Muslims are not persecuted in relation to Muslims and non-Muslims.

In that respect, the empire was peaceful. Christians and Muslims, who make up the majority of the empire, coexist.

This was why 젠빌리 valued the safety of the empire.

“If you say that far, I won’t say any more. But keep one thing in mind. Once you start, you can’t back down.”

“If the Padishah’s command is ultimately for the peace of the empire, I will follow it.”

“No one wants that more than I do.”

“Then I will listen to the Padishah’s plan.”

Yusuf started quickly at 젠빌리’s cheerful answer.

“As you know, I am in a situation where I can be revered as a saint as much as I want. You know that, right?”

“…I know.”

It might have been fortunate if it was just a saint.

Despite the Quran, there are those who claim that Yusuf is the prophet who succeeds Muhammad.

There is no such heresy, but it cannot be suppressed.

How can you whip Yusuf, the Sultan, for worshiping him?

“You asked me before. Are you going to be a god?”

“The Padishah said he had no intention of becoming a god clumsily.”

It remained vividly in my memory because it was an unexpected answer.

It is a natural desire for a ruler to want to be revered like a god, but he rejected it head-on.

“That feeling hasn’t changed now. So, there’s no need to have such a serious face.”

“This old man’s face is originally serious.”

“Let’s just say that. Anyway, this movement is not only in Islam.”

“I heard that there are those among the People of the Book [Christians and Jews] who claim that.”

In Islam, including the Ottoman Empire, Christians and Jews were collectively called the People of the Book, and here the book referred to the Pentateuch and the Old Testament in the Bible.

Yusuf raised the corners of his lips at 젠빌리’s words.

“Why do you think such an argument came out?”

“Padishah?”

젠빌리’s face was filled with embarrassment.

It was a little strange. He doesn’t completely follow Islam, but in any case, the Sultan is nominally a Muslim.

It was strange that there was a movement to revere such a Sultan as a saint, but I didn’t know that the Sultan was playing tricks.

“Why are you so surprised? The tool cannot choose the owner. The owner chooses the tool.”

젠빌리 swallowed a laugh at Yusuf’s brazen attitude.

It was strange and amazing that the words he said earlier were not empty words and that he really regarded religion as a tool.

“Are you really going to be a saint?”

“I shouldn’t get as much respect as a saint, should I?”

Most of the regions that were annexed to the Ottoman Empire had not yet established the perception that they were imperial citizens.

At the bottom of it all was the feeling that they didn’t want to serve a pagan emperor.

“First of all, I’m thinking of stopping Devshirme [the practice of taking boys from Christian families into Ottoman service].”

Devshirme, also called the blood tax, was a system of drafting Christian boys, and it was a system that received tremendous backlash in the areas where it was implemented.

If this Devshirme system is stopped, it will receive tremendous support, but.

“Are you okay?”

“I also know the advantages of Devshirme well.”

The core officials and Janissaries [elite Ottoman soldiers] within the Ottoman Empire were from Devshirme, and their loyalty was high because they had been brainwashed since they were young.

It is a system that the Sultan is reluctant to abandon, but Yusuf evaluated it coldly.

‘Even if you work hard to brainwash them from a young age to raise their loyalty, they are also human. Loyalty can be shaken at any time.’

You can see that the Janissaries play an important role when the Sultan is replaced.

Of course, they also release a lot of wealth and treat them well to strengthen their wavering loyalty, but if they are going to strengthen their loyalty anyway, there is no need to maintain the system while being criticized.

“젠빌리, do you think I won’t be able to receive loyalty if I’m not a person chosen by Devshirme?”

“That won’t be the case.”

It is Yusuf’s reputation that penetrates even into the realm of religion, which is the realm of faith.

Loyalty is secondary, and even if they show signs of opposition, they could be stabbed by a colleague next to them.

“Or will I make mistakes in the future and lose more authority than I do now?”

“You will rise higher.”

Even if he only conquers Mamluk and spends the rest of his life playing and eating, he will be praised as a great Sultan.

There is no reason to worry about loyalty without Devshirme.

“However, won’t there be problems in future generations, including the prince?”

“Huh, why would I worry about such foolish future generations who can’t even receive loyalty from their subordinates?”

Rather than such future generations staying in the Sultan’s seat, it is better to go to the guillotine and have a civil revolution.

젠빌리 looked dizzy at Yusuf’s firm words.

As I talk to him, I feel more and more afraid of what he is thinking in his head.

“If a normal future generation succeeds me, they will use their skills to come up with the necessary measures. Anyway, I’m thinking of filling the vacancy of Devshirme with exams.”

“…The target will not only be Muslims.”

“It’s a natural thing. And you have to make the Muslims understand this.”

젠빌리’s complexion darkened as he received a difficult task, but it’s not over yet.

“I’m thinking of sending portraits of my face to each region. At least you should know who you’re serving. Of course, I won’t use Islamic painting style.”

“There’s even the problem of idolatry.”

Islamic miniatures have developed, saying that even drawing portraits of rulers has the potential for idolatry.

젠빌리 sighed deeply.

“I will do my best.”

***

“So, have my portrait drawn. You have to draw at least a hundred.”

“…Yes?”

Michelangelo, who had barely escaped from being a rower, was momentarily confused and shouted urgently.

“I’m a sculptor!”

“Then will you make a hundred sculptures?”

Michelangelo obediently picked up his brush.