An Interesting Project of Saçaklızade Aiming at “Improvement” Religious Life of Ottoman Public in Reform Age: “Invitation and Forcing to Knowledge and Action

Abstract

In this study, ideas in two treatises titled Mektûb ilâ ulemâi'l-bilâd and Nasîhatü'l-ulemâ of Saçaklızade Muhammed el-Mar'aşî (death 1732), a scholar from rural areas lived in 17th and 18th centuries, are examined. Saçaklızâde mentions striking claims that religion was pushed back in Ottoman society and that scholars and rulers did not put suffi cient eff ort in "inviting" and "enforcing" public to religious aff airs. In addition, he asserts that it was required to revive sharia (ihyâ), renew religion (tecdîd) and improve religious aff airs of Muslim public (ıslâh) in that age as a more striking matter. No doubt that these ideas are very important in terms of both scientifi c mindset of Saçaklızâde, as a scholar, and religious-social history of Ottomans and deserve an analysis.