A Huccat Controversy between the Mufti (of Istanbul) and the Qadi'asker of Rumeli or a Showdown between Kemalpasazade and Fenarizade in the Reign of Sultan Suleyman 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 mufti to be signed. The mufti, Kemalpasazade, 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 Ibrahim Pasha, the grand vizier of the imperial divan, Kemalpasazade reveals his opinion on the huccat in a textual commentary. Fenarizade, the rumeli qadi'asker, responds to this text. Ibrahim Pasha then orders the correction of the huccat in accordance with the opinion of Kemalpasazade. In this study, chain of events throughout this dispute are examined. In closing, Kemalpasazade's and Fenarizade's opinions on the issue are analyzed in terms of the Ottoman scientific tradition.