A Huccat Controversy between the Müfti (of Istanbul) and the Qadi’asker of Rumeli or a Showdown between Kemalpaşazade and Fenarizade in the Reign of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent

Abstract

In 1529 a huccat (a juridical document) edited by the Ottoman dignitary Fenarizade, the qadi’asker of Rumeli, is sent to the müfti to be signed. The müfti, Kemalpaşazade, refuses to sign it due to errors in the document. The owner of the huccat then appeals to the Imperial Divan. Upon the request of İbrahim Pasha, the grand vizier of the imperial divan, Kemalpaşazade reveals his opinion on the huccat in a textual commentary. Fenarizade, the rumeli qadi’asker, responds to this text. İbrahim Pasha then orders the correction of the huccat in accordance with the opinion of Kemalpaşazade. In this study, chain of events throughout this dispute are examined. In closing, Kemalpaşazade’s and Fenarizade’s opinions on the issue are analyzed in terms of the Ottoman scientific tradition.