Shaykh al-Islām

Portrait of Shaykh ul-Islam by Ali bey Huseynzade

Shaykh al-Islām (Sheikh ul-Islam, Sheikhul Islam, Shaikh al-Islam, Şeyhülislam) is an honorific title used for outstanding scholars of the Islamic sciences ^[1]:399[2] and was first used in Khurasan towards the end of the 4th Islamic century.^[1]:399

Later it became a prestigious position in the Ottoman Empire, that governed religious affairs of the Muslims.^[1]:400 The Ottomans had a strict hierarchy of ulama, with the Sheikh ul-Islam holding the highest rank. A Sheikh ul-Islam was chosen by a royal warrant amongst the qadis of important cities. The Sheikh ul-Islam had the power to confirm new sultans, but once the sultan was affirmed, it was the sultan who retained a higher authority than the Sheik ul-Islam. The Sheikh ul-Islam issued fatwas, which were written interpretations of the Quran that had authority over the community. The Sheikh ul-Islam represented the law of shariah and in the 16th century its importance rose which led to increased power. Sultan Murad appointed a Sufi, Yayha, as his Sheikh ul-Islam during this time which led to violent disapproval. The objection to this appointment made obvious the amount of power the Sheikh ul-Islam had, since people were afraid he would alter the traditions and norms they were living under by issuing new fatwas.

After the National Assembly of Turkey was established in 1920, this office was in the Shar’iyya wa Awqaf Ministry until 1924, when the Ministry was abolished due to separation of religion from state, the office was replaced by the Presidency of Religious Affairs. As the successor entity to the office of the Sheikh al-Islam, the Presidency of Religious Affairs is the most authoritative entity in Turkey in relation to Sunni Islam.

List of scholars who received the title "Shaykh al-Islam"

The following Islamic scholars were granted the title "Shaykh al-Islam":

• Abu Talib al-Makki^[3] (b. 386 A.H.)
• al-Juwayni^[4] (b. 419 A.H.)
• Khwaja Abdullah Ansari^[1]:400 (b. 481 A.H.)
• Izz al-Din ibn 'Abd al-Salam^[5] (b. 577 A.H.)
• al-Nawawi (b. 631 A.H.)
• Ibn Taymiyyah^[6] (b. 661 A.H.)
• Taqi al-Din al-Subki ^[7](b. 683 A.H.)
• Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani^[8] (b. 773 A.H.)
• Zakariyya al-Ansari^[9] (b. 823 A.H.)

Current

Pakistan

• Abul A'la Maududi was the Shaykh al-Islām and Hadith of South Asia. He is regarded to be one of the greatest Muslim scholars of the 20th century. ^[10] He is the second person in the history whose Gayby Salat al-Janazah took place in the holy Kaaba. ^{[11] [12]}

• Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri is one of the current Shaykh al-Islām of Pakistan. He is the professor of international constitutional law at the University of the Punjab. ^[13]

• Muhammad Madani Miya Ashrafi al-Jilani is the current Shaykh al-Islam of the Indo-Pak Region and in the Sunni World. He received this title in 1974 by the current Shaykh al-Islam of their time ^[14]

India

• Muhammad Madani Miya Ashrafi al-Jilani is the current Shaykh al-Islam of the Indo-Pak Region and in the Sunni World. He received this title in 1974 by the current Shaykh al-Islam of their time ^[15]

Bangladesh

• Azizul Haque, also known as Sheikh-Ul-Hadith, was the former Shaykh al-Islam of Bangladesh; he died in 2012. He was the first person to translate the Sahih al-Bukhari into Bengali language and he is also the founder of Jamiah Rahmania Arabia Dhaka.^[16][17]

• Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, a former Member of parliament of Bangladesh, is the current Shaykh al-Islam of Bangladesh. He is a world renowned scholar, speaker and one of the twenty men who has the permission to enter in the Kaaba in Mecca.^[18]

• Shah Ahmad Shafi, the founder and leader of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, was nominated as the 2nd Shaykh al-Islam of Bangladesh in 2013. He is also the present rector of Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Hathazari and the chairman of Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasah Education Board.^[19][20][21]

Thailand

In Thailand, the Shaykh al-Islām is called Chularatchamontri (Thai: จุฬาราชมนตรี). Pursuant to the Islamic Organ Administration Act, BE 2540 (1997), Chularatchamontri is appointed by the King upon advice of the Prime Minister. He has the authority to administer all Islamic affairs in the Nation and to provide advice on Islamic affairs to government agencies. Chularatchamontri vacates his office upon death, resignation and removal by the King upon advice of the Prime Minister.

Gallery

• 

  Sheykh of the Rufai Sufi Order

• 

  Shaykh ul-Islam Mehmet Cemaleddin Efendi during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II

See also

• Caliph
• Allamah
• Mufti
• Sheikh
• Sheikh (Sufism)
• Mawlānā
• Hadrat
• Grand Mufti
• Hujjat al-Islam
• List of Sheikh-ul-Islams of the Ottoman Empire

References

External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article: NYT 1915 "Defense Committee Corners Supplies"

• Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Turkey

State organisation of the Ottoman Empire Central system House of Osman Ottoman dynasty (Ottoman Caliphate) Imperial Harem Palace Schools Government Imperial Council (Porte) (all periods) Grand Vizier Viziers Kazaskers Defterdars/Ministers of Finance Nişancı Reis ül-Küttab Imperial Government (constitutional period) General Assembly Senate Chamber of Deputies (political parties) Administrative divisions Millets Islam Shaykh al-Islām Christianity Orthodox Armenian Syriac Orthodox Coptic Orthodox Judaism Hakham Bashi Provincial Eyalets Beylerbeys Vilayets Sanjaks Sanjakbeys Mutasarrifates Kazas/Kadiluks Vassal and tributary states