"Contributions to Oriental Philology" (POF) is a scientific journal that publishes papers in the field of Ottoman studies, Oriental philology, Oriental-Islamic literature and art.
Univerziteta u Sarajevu - Orijenatlni institut, Sarajevo
Dželila Babović, Arabic Literature in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Translation and Critical Reception (Mirza Sarajkić) Eliza Tasbihi, Hidden in Plain Sight: İsmāʻīl Anḳaravī’s Commentary on ‘Book Seven’ of Rūmī’s Mathnawi (Madžida Mašić) Amina Šiljak-Jesenković, Madžida Mašić, Sarajevski pjesnik Zekerija Sukerija: Književno-teorijska studija i izbor iz Divana (Nehrudin Rebihić) Madžida Mašić, Rukopisne zbirke na orijentalnim jezicima u franjevačkim samostanima, medresama i tekijama u Bosni i Hercegovini (Dželila Babović) Aladin Husić, Sarajevski Jevreji od dolaska u Bosnu do 1878. godine (Enes Pelidija) Nenad Filipović, Acta Ottomanica Saraevoensia: (osmanski dokumenti Arhiva OIS UNSA-studijski katalog) (Lamija Ljuša) Pisma Hamdije Kreševljakovića Muhamedu Hadžijahiću (1938-1959) (Sabaheta Gačanin) Leyla Amzi-Erdoğdular, The Afterlife of Ottoman Europe: Muslims in Habsburg Bosnia Herzegovina (Amer Maslo) Ines Aščerić, Aid Smajić, Janet Starkey and Paul Starkey (eds), Travellers in Ottoman Lands. The Balkans, Anatolia and Beyond (Sabaheta Gačanin) Čuvari baštine, zbornik radova posvećen prof. dr. Fehimu Nametku (Emina Mostić) Feti Mehdiu, Kontribut Për Bibliografi Kombëtare (2), Prilog nacionalnoj bibliografiji (Muhammad M. al-Arnaut)
Copyright (c) 2025 Prilozi za orijentalnu filologiju
Bibliography of dr. Behija Zlatar 1974.-2025.
Epistle of Haci Bayram Veli on the Perfect Man
This paper aims to present the Epistle on the Perfect Man, a work by the renowned Ottoman Sufi and Sheikh Haji Bayram Veli. The first part contains biographical information about the author and an overview of the influence of the Bajrami–Melami dervish order, with a focus on its development in Anatolia and the Balkans, as well as the contribution of Bosnian representatives of the order. In the second part, we offer a translation of the Epistle and highlight previous research and preserved manuscripts. Finally, we address the question of authenticity and examine the influence of Ibn ‘Arabī’s teachings on the content of the Epistle. The appendix includes a facsimile of the original manuscript (Ali Emiri Şeriyye, no. 1386/2) from the Millet Kütüphanesi collection in Istanbul.
Miniatures in the Dīvān of Ḥāfiẓ Šīrāzī from the Manuscript Collection of the Gazi Husrev-beg Library
The Dīvān of the celebrated lyrical poet Shams al–dīn Muḥammad Ḥāfiẓ Šīrāzī (d. c. 1390) ranks among the most significant works of classical Persian literature. It consists primarily of ghazals, some qasidas and ruba‘is. An illuminated manuscript of the Dīvān is held at the Gazi Husrev–beg Library in Sarajevo under the call number R–1366. It contains five miniatures. This manuscript of Ḥāfiẓ’ Dīvān is particularly noteworthy as it represents the only preserved illuminated manuscript in the Bosnian manuscript collections that contains miniatures of Persian provenance. Even though it has been hitherto briefly overviewed, showcased, and presented, scholars so far did not provide a comprehensive description of its decorative programme. This paper aims at analysing and interpreting the Dīvān illustrations in R–1366, with particular attention accorded to its miniatures in a formal and systematic study of their iconographic features in an attempt to determine the possible origin of its miniatures’ style, contextualizing the Sarajevan illuminated copy of the Dīvān in a broader cultural landscape of Persian miniature painting. This study also examines the relationship between the miniatures and the relevant passages in the text.
Locust Plague in Late Ottoman Herzegovina (1866–1878)
Climate change and modernization processes during the 19th century significantly affected the environment of the Ottoman Empire and the living beings inhabiting it. Natural disasters increasingly posed a challenge that both the Ottoman administration and the populations of affected regions had to address, with locust plagues proving particularly devastating. From the mid–19th century until the end of World War I, there was scarcely a period in which some imperial province was not grappling with the problem of excessive locust plagues. The Bosnian Vilayet, as a frontier province on the northern Balkans, encountered this problem several times from the establishment of the vilayet until the Austro–Hungarian occupation of 1878, even though earlier periods had not witnessed locust plagues as a characteristic phenomenon in this region. This study presents and analyzes documented evidence of locust threats recorded in 1866, 1873, and 1878 in the Mostar area. Owing to its geographical and climatic conditions, this area was particularly susceptible to locust invasions, which contributed to the Bosnian Vilayet joining other Ottoman provinces in experiencing a form of crisis that necessitated organized action against the pests. The research suggests that the intensity of locust plagues and the resulting damage in parts of the Sanjak of Herzegovina between 1866 and 1878 was not as destructive as the consequences recorded from similar natural disasters during the same or comparable periods in the Middle East, Cyprus, or Western Anatolia. The methods of combating locusts in the Bosnian Vilayet were similar to those employed in other parts of the Ottoman Empire. Measures taken in other vilayets, such as those in Cyprus, were reported in provincial newspapers where they were praised for their effectiveness and recommended for implementation. The authorities of the Bosnian Vilayet took the problem seriously. The records show that efforts to fight locusts began promptly, with the participation not only of the local population but also of sanjak administrators. Through the example of locust plagues, this study illustrates how natural disasters, in conjunction with climatic, social, and institutional factors, could pose a serious threat to agricultural production and consequently affect other aspects of everyday life in the Ottoman Empire. Although parts of the Bosnian Vilayet directly experienced the “fear of locusts,” this province, despite the recorded damage, avoided the fate of other regions where such natural calamities had devastating consequences during the last century of Ottoman rule.
A Yearly Expense Report of the Sarajevo Menzilhane From the Late 18th Century
It was of great importance for the Ottoman authorities to establish a fast, secure, and regular postal connection between Istanbul, Bosnia, and other administrative centers. On the main trade routes, special postal stations, menzilhane, were built at intervals of approximately from each other ten hours of walking. The menzilhane were leased for one year, which also marked the duration of the appointed menzilci’s mandate – an official and/or lessee who supervised the entire operation of the menzilhane. This paper presents a yearly expense report of the Sarajevo menzilhane from the late 18th century, based on a sicill (court record) from the Sarajevo Sharia Court for the specified period, which is kept in the Gazi Husrev-beg Library in Sarajevo. The expense report covers various expenditures of the menzilhane, including its maintenance, lease price, and other business costs. One-third of these costs were covered by the Nahiya of Visoko, while the remaining two-thirds were paid by the surrounding villages of the Nahiya of Sarajevo.
Traces of the Self: Scattered First-Person Narratives in the Writings of Münīrī-i Belġrādī (d. ca 1620-1628)
This paper explores traces of first–person narrative in the writings of the Balkan Ottoman author Münīrī–i Belġrādī1 (d. ca 1620–1628). Based on the available data, it is known that he held the positions of mufti, müderris, and Sufi scholar. It is therefore probable that he also served as a sheikh of a Sufi order, most likely the Halveti order. Münīrī–i Belġrādī was active during the second half of the sixteenth century and the early decades of the seventeenth century, primarily in Belgrade. Through close textual analysis of his writings, the study contributes to ongoing discussions about the rhetorical construction of selfhood in Ottoman manuscript culture. Rather than treating the first–person singular pronoun “I” as the sole marker of ego–narrative, the paper identifies and interprets indirect and periphrastic strategies for articulating the self. Such texts offer not only rhetorical complexity but also valuable historical insights, particularly in terms of factual content. The study argues that representation and factuality in these writings are not mutually exclusive, but rather interwoven dimensions of Ottoman literary expression. Researchers approaching ego–narrative in this context should attend to both rhetorical strategies and the historical realities embedded within them.
Philosophical, Political and Theoretical Considerations in the Eight Paradises Chronicle
Idris Husamuddin Bidlisi (d. 1520), an emigrant from the East, was a prominent figure at the court of Bayezid II, and later Selim I, as a political philosopher, advisor, and statesman whose influence on Ottoman self–perception is more pronounced than that of any other scholar of his generation. He is the author of dynastic chronicle Hasht Bihisht in Persian language, which will be discussed in this paper. This chronicle not only presents documentary and factual data about the past, but also represents a historical phenomenon for understanding the political thinking of the time, from descriptions of contemporary rulers and statesmen to interests in the Ottoman court to demonstrations of philosophical and theoretical positions. His perception of history and the way he wrote down historical memory with completely different tools has the consequence that Ottoman society has a different relationship to its own past. An analysis of Bidlisi’s tools in his work reveals his conception of governance, supported by creative and original discussions that emphasized the cosmic and sacred aspects of the sultanate, elaborated through Tasawwuf ontology.
philosophical and political considerations
Several Documents on Isa Bey’s Tekke in Sarajevo (III)
The zaviya (dervish lodge) of Isa Bey Ishaković in Sarajevo has often been identified in historiography and collective memory with the Mevlevi order, although no evidence of such an affiliation exists in the waqfiyya or in early documents. The connection between the zaviya and the Mevlevi order appears only in the last quarter of the 18th century, when Osman Dede was appointed shaykh of the Mevlevi tekke of Hadži Mahmud, located in the immediate vicinity of Isa Bey’s zaviya. At that time, Osman Dede equated the two institu­tions, presenting himself as the shaykh of Isa Bey’s zaviya and assuming the administration of its waqf, which led to a prolonged legal dispute with the then mutawalli, a descendant of Isa Bey. Court documents determined that Isa Bey’s zaviya did not belong to the Mevlevi order and that Osman Dede lost the ad­ministration of the waqf. A number of documents on this subject are preserved in the archives, some of which have been published in two previous studies. Lutfullah Efendi, who succeeded Osman Dede as shaykh of the Mevlevi tekke, continued his father’s claims regarding Gazi Isa Bey’s zaviya. This gave rise to a new dispute over the management of the waqf between the sons of the previ­ous litigants. This paper focuses on the documents of that dispute preserved in the sijill (court register) of the Sarajevo Sharia Court, among the documents of the Gazi Husrev–beg Library in Sarajevo. These documents indicate that Lutfullah Efendi achieved no better outcome than his father and was unable to take over the administration of Isa Bey’s zaviya. They also highlight that Isa Bey’s zaviya and the Mevlevi tekke in Sarajevo were two distinct institutions and that it was not Gazi Isa Bey’s zaviya that was Mevlevi, but rather the tekke of Hadži Mahmud.
Contrastive Analysis of Consonant Clusters and Syllable Structure in Croatian and Turkish
This paper aims to highlight some key differences in the rules of consonant combination and distribution in Croatian and Turkish words, considering the euphonic nature of Turkish as its typological feature. Consonant clusters are analysed and contrasted at the syllable level, which is considered the basic structure in which sounds combine with each other, relying primarily on the sonority sequencing principle. The analysis seeks to identify and compare prototypical, typical and non–typical syllable patterns in Croatian and Turkish native words, and then examines how these patterns are extended by inclu­sion of possible consonant combinations in loanwords in both languages. In analyzing possible consonant sequences, attention is given to contrasting them according to the number, type, and sonority of consonants that occur in differ­ent patterns in syllable onset and coda, as well as to intra– and inter–linguistic differences with respect to word origin. The (non)syllabicity of the consonant r is also discussed in relation to the possibilities of its phonetic realization in both languages, along with the potential syllabicity of some other consonants in both languages. Ways of breaking up consonant clusters with (non)phone­mic prothetic vowels in foreign words are also considered. Finally, with regard to the latter, the question of syllabification and its interpretation based on two different approaches to the syllable — as a phonetic and as a phonological unit — is touched upon for certain Turkish words of foreign origin.
Kinship Terms in Arabic With a Contrastive Perspective on Croatian
This paper aims to examine kinship terminology in Modern Standard Arabic with a contrastive perspective on Croatian, and to analyze the familiarity and use of kinship terms in two urban centers: Damascus and Zagreb. Arabic features a highly differentiated system of kinship terms and possesses a rich, dynamic lexical inventory that remains active and productive in contemporary usage. This lexicon is closely tied to the patriarchal structure of Arab social, cultural, and religious life. Kinship relations pervade many aspects of everyday life, and the family – not only the nuclear but also the extended – continues to occupy a prominent place in the hierarchy of social values. The Croatian language also possesses a rich kinship lexicon; however, many of these terms are either unknown to or unused by native speakers, particularly in urban areas. The analysis in this study categorizes kinship terms according to gender (male/female), type of relation (blood/non–blood), generational difference (ascending/descending), and affiliation through the paternal or maternal line. A comparison of kinship terms in these two genetically and typologically distinct languages reveals that the gender of the referential person from whom kinship is defined (ego) is not a relevant factor in Arabic, whereas in Croatian, it often plays a crucial role in the selection of appropriate terms. Furthermore, Croatian lexicographic sources often diverge significantly from data obtained through questionnaires, a discrepancy not observed in Arabic. In both languages kin­ship terms are frequently used outside of familial contexts as forms of address and reference in social interaction.
Attributive Relative Clauses Introduced by Adverbial Relativizers in Arabic
Attributive relative clauses introduced by adverbial relativizers are rarely used in Modern Standard Arabic, and are completely absent in its syntactic description. The intriguing aspect of this type of relative clause lies in the fact that their attributive function is opposed to the main purpose of the use of adverbial relativizers, namely the formation of adverbial clauses. The main task of this paper is the analysis of examples of attributive relative clauses introduced by the adverbial relativizers ḥayṯu, ḥīna, ʻindamā, kamā and munḏu found in works belonging to Modern Standard Arabic. The analysis is based on the analytical–descriptive method and the typological–functional approach, which allow examining of attributive relative clauses introduced by adverbial relativizers from different perspectives. Although the analysis will include exploring syntactic functions of head nouns in main and relative clauses, whereby the relative clause formation strategy using the relative word to encode the syntactic function of head noun in the relative clause is illustrated, this is not the only goal of the paper. The paper also aims to demonstrate that attributive relative clauses introduced by adverbial relativizers, although formally functioning as attributive modifiers, tend to convey diverse semantic content. Moreover, this type of Arabic relative clause is not only an embodiment of the law of linguistic economy but it also represents an exceptionally effective means of stylistic choice.
The Arabic Language and Literature in Gymnasiums of Bosnia and Herzegovina during Austro-Hungarian Rule
This article explores the introduction and development of Arabic language and literature instruction in gymnasiums (secondary schools) in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Austro-Hungarian period. Following the 1878 occupation, the Austro-Hungarian administration implemented an educational system modeled on Austrian standards, while adapting it to local cultural and religious contexts. In 1889, classical Arabic was introduced as an alternative compulsory subject for Muslim students in place of Greek, as part of a broader strategy to integrate the Muslim population into the state education system. Arabic was taught in major gymnasiums in Sarajevo, Mostar, Tuzla, and Bihać. The curriculum was modeled on that of classical languages, and teaching materials included works by European Orientalists and Arab authors, as well as textbooks written by local teachers. These materials were approved by the local government and reviewed by both local scholars and prominent Orientalists such as Ignác Goldziher. The authorities were careful not to offend the religious sentiments of Muslims; for textbooks that addressed religious topics, they sought the opinion of the Reis-ul-ulema or the Ulema Mejlis.
state secondary schools of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Treatise on The Kitāb Al-Ṭahāra Construct State by Muhamed Čajničanin
The paper presents a hitherto unpublished treatise entitled Kašf al–ʼasrār bi ḥaqāʼiq al–kitāb wa daqāʼiq al–ṭahāra (Discovering the secrets of meanings of the word book and characteristics of the word purity), written in the second half of the 18th century by Muhamed Son of Mustafa Čajničanin (Muḥammad Ibn Muṣṭafā al–Čāyničawī). There are several references in literature about the author, suggesting that he served as a mudarris and a Sarajevo mufti. He also authored a fairly known work on logic. His treatise discussed in this paper has so far not been a subject of textological preparation and content analysis, although it has been registered. For the purposes of this paper, two copies of the work were used as sources, of which one is held in the manuscript collection of the Gazi Husrev–Bey’s Library in Sarajevo, and the other in the collection of manuscripts in oriental languages of the University Library “Svetozar Marković” in Belgrade. The study includes the description and textological preparation of the two available copies of the manuscript, critical examination of the work, translation and content analysis, focusing on the analysis of the kitāb al–ṭahāra construct state, as well as the form and meanings of its components.
Muhamed Son of Mustafa Čajničanin (Muḥammad Ibn Muṣṭafā al–Čāyničawī)
Kašf al–ʼasrār bi ḥaqāʼiq al–kitāb wa daqāʼiq al–ṭahāra
Mehmed Kico, Amrudin Hajrić, Uvod u orijentalnu filologiju - Vedad Hurić Dragana M. Đorđević, Uvod u klasičnu arapsku leksikografiju (VIII-XVIII vek) - Dželila Babović Berin Bajrić, Orijentalno-islamsko naslijeđe u djelu Muḥāḍara al-ʼawāʼil wa musāmara al-ʼawāḫir Ali-dede Bošnjaka - Dželila Babović Esad Duraković, Muhammed Mufaku, Antologija poezije Arapskog Istoka XX vijeka - Berin Bajrić Dünyada Turkoloji I-III - Hamza Kurtanović Mustafa İsen, Tuba Durmuş, Balkanlarda Türk Edebiyatı Tarihi - Madžida Mašić Munir Drkić, Ahmed Zildžić, Carstvo teksta: Tuḥfe-i Šāhidī i njegova upotreba u osmanskoj Bosni - Đenita Haverić Aida Mujezin Čolo, Čajniče i okolina, 15. i 16. stoljeće - Emina Mostić Adnan Kadrić, Alma Omanović-Veladžić, Bužim u osmanskim dokumentima - Emina Mostić Adis Zilić, Faruk Taslidža, Sedad Bešlija, Haris Dervišević, Ahmet Kurt, Sinan-paša Borovinić: društveni status, porijeklo, politički uspon, početak urbanizacije Mostara - Amir Džinić Katalog arapskih, turskih, perzijskih i bosanskih rukopisa Historijskog arhiva Sarajevo, svezak četvrti IV - Elma Dervišbegović Medicina bez granica: zdravlje i liječenje u osmanskoj Bosni – Zbornik radova - Madžida Mašić
Copyright (c) 2024 Prilozi za orijentalnu filologiju
Türkolog Milan Adamović’in Türkçe tasnifi
Türkolog Milan Adamović, 1985 yılında yayımlanmış olan Konjugationsgeschichte der Türkischen Sprache (=Türk Dilinin Fiil Çekim Tarihi) adlı doçentlik çalışmasında Anadolu’da Türkçe ilk eserlerden itibaren günümüze kadar süregelen Türkçeyi dil özellikleri esasında beş döneme ayırarak tasnif etmiştir. Eski Anadolu Türkçesi olarak adlandırdığımız ilk iki dönem halk dili, konuşma dili ve yazı dilinin birbirine en yakın olduğu devirdir. Üçüncü dönem, Osmanlı Beyliği’nin güçlendiği ve halk dilinin baskın olmaya başladığı dönemdir. İzleyen dönemlerde dilin merkezi olan İstanbul’da Türkçe önce Balkan diyalekti etkisinde kurulup zamanla Anadolu’dan gelenlerin artmasıyla değişime uğramaya başlamıştır. 19. yüzyılın sonundan itibaren yazı dilinde değişiklikler artmıştır. Dilin gelişimi açısından bütün dönemler önemli olmakla birlikte makalede özellikle Eski Anadolu Türkçesi olan birinci ve ikinci dönem ayrıntılı olarak irdelenmiştir.
Hasan Kaleši – povodom 100 godina od rođenja (1922-1976)
U socijalističkoj Jugoslaviji decenijama su djelovala dva odsjeka za orijentalistiku: jedan u Beogradu (osnovan 1925) i drugi u Sarajevu (osnovan 1950). Ta dva odsjeka imali su relativno različite odnose prema onome što je Edward Said nazvao orijentalismom – dakle prema ideologiji evrocentrizma koji se odnosio prema Orijentu (muslimanskom svijetu na Orijentu) kao prema intelektualno i moralno inferiornom „predmetu“ svojih izučavanja. Beogradska orijentalistika je u tome bila epigon evropske orijentalistike. Manje evrocentrički usmjerena bila je orijentalistika u Sarajevu, a za Orijentalni institut u Sarajevu ne bi se moglo reći da je bio „kontaminiran“ ideologijom evrocentrizma. Akademik Hasan Kaleši je osnovao treći odsjek za orijentalistiku u Prištini (1973), dajući mu posebnu profilaciju i naučničku orijentaciju. Ovaj polihistor i poliglot, filolog u najpozitivnijem značenju klasičnog njemačkog pojma filologija, dao je izuzetan doprinos naučničkom a ne ideološkom orijentiranju „jugoslovenske orijentalistike“. Njegov impresivan opus (a preminuo je u naponu intelektualne snage, naučnoistraživačkog iskustva i entuzijazma) može biti zasebno istraživan imanentnim metodama i u različitim aspektima, ali ga ovdje predstavljam kao orijentalistu bez ideoloških predrasuda i usmjerenja, s punom sviješću da orijentalistika izučava elemente orijentalno-islamske baštine nekih jugoslovenskih naroda, te da je, kao takva, unekoliko i nacionalna disciplina.
On the Timar System and Military Salaries Through Ottoman Documents of the Archives of Bosnia and Herzegovina From the 17th to the First Years of the 19th Century
In this paper, we write about the oldest Ottoman documents (berats, firmans, buyuruldis and tezkiras) from the Collection of Gifts and Redemptions of the Archives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which talk about the allocation of land holdings (timars) and appointments to military duties. Along with the presentation and analysis of the amount of military salaries and income over the centuries, we tried to approximate the value of land holdings and military salaries in this period.
On the Origin of the Settlement Dizdaruša Near Brčko
Dizdarević, Dazdarević, and Dizdarlija are among the surnames that are common in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These surnames are derived from the Persian noun „dizdar“ (dizdār), which referred to the commander of a fortress during the Ottoman rule. As well as surnames, this term also generates the names of settlements as Dazdarlije, Dizdarev Potok, and Dizdaruša, specifically from the role of dizdar. This essay aims to elucidate the history of the Dizdaruša settlement, which is located close to Brčko. A certain Ali (Alija), who was an officer in the household troops of the Grand Vizier Lala Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, was the first to deliver news of the capture of the Esztergom fortress by Ottoman troops in 1605 to the Sublime Porte in Istanbul. As a reward for this, he obtained a lifetime position as the commander of the Ottoman castle of Brčko. According to the report, this appointment might have been a pivotal moment in the development of the Dizdaruša village near Brčko.
Kanunnama About Devshirma From the Time of Bayezid II (1481-1512)
As a contribution to the study of devshirma, the paper presents the Kanunnama on the recruitment of janissary youths, which dates from the reign of Sultan Bayezid II (1481-1512). In the introduction, the term devshirma itself is explained and basic information about its origin and implementation is presented. Also, the introductory part includes a short overview of the scientific literature that deals with the process of recruiting young men into the janissaries. The following chapter presents the mentioned kanunnama, basic information about its manuscript copies and historical significance. The most important segment of this work is the integral translation of the Kanunnama on the recruitment of janissary youth, which represents the basis of the functioning of the acemi ocak. The aforementioned kanunnama was compiled into eight legal articles that had to be strictly observed when recruiting young men into the janissaries.
The Legacy of Fatima Dudija Hatun, Sarajevo Benefactor
In this paper based on the available Ottoman archival sources and accessible secondary literature, an attempt is made to reconstruct the life of a Sarajevo benefactor from the end of the 18th and the first half of the 19th century, who bequeathed part of her property for religious and educational purposes. Based on the inventory of the property remained after her death, we tried to get a closer picture of the private life of a woman benefactor, then to provide information about the way and style of her life, then on the type of household furniture, textile furniture, kitchen utensils, decorative objects and other things that adorned and filled the interior of her home. Likewise, we analyzed the jewelry she owned, the style of her daily clothing, the type and quality of the materials of the clothing, and information about the rest of her movable and immovable properties. The person in case was named Fatima Dudija hatun, daughter of Pehlivan Husejn-aga, from Sarajevo, resident of Careva Mahala.
the end of the 18th and the first half of the 19th century
Portrait of Ottoman Statesman Hekimoglu Ali Pasha (1689-1758): Life, Career and Personality
The article reconstructs unknown facts about life and administrative achieve- ments of Ottoman statesman Hekimoglu Ali Pasha who held the office of Grand Vizier three times and was famous for the victory at the battle of Banja Luka in 1737. Ali Pasha’s life also provides an insight into the trends of Ottoman administrative politics, which in his case deviated from the trends of the postclassical era of the Ottoman Empire. Also, Pasha’s merits in the cultural, architectural, intellectual and technological transformation of the Empire indicated a change that would be fully realized only a century later. Parallel to the downward trajectory of his career, one can observe the gradual change in his character which can be reconstructed through the archival correspondence with the Republic of Dubrovnik. The transformation of his character can be also seen through the prism of his political maturation in the period from the first to the last appointment in Bosnian eyalet (1736-1748).
The Supreme Kadis (Mollas) of Bosnia in the Second Half of the 17th Century
The highest representative of the judicial authority and one of the most im- portant levers in the administrative apparatus of the Ottoman Empire in one province (eyalet) was the molla. He was granted extensive powers and the ability to control other officials of the Ottoman authority. Considering the role and importance of those high-ranking Ottoman officials, the paper aims to present the individuals who were appointed to the Eyalet of Bosna as well as the dynamics of changes in these positions in the second half of the 17th century. In cases where it was possible, insight was given into their education and experience, as well as some interesting facts from their lives. In order to achieve this, the contents of various individual and collective documents were analyzed. The presented data contribute to a better understanding of Ottoman judicial practice and the specific activities of judges in Bosnia in the 17th century.
Tithe, One-Fifth, One-Third, One-Half: Preliminary Notes On The Wider Scope of Agrarian Relations in Ottoman Bosnia in the Classic Period
Thus far, in dealing with the issue of agrarian relations in 16th-century Otto- man Bosnia the focus has been on the miri land regime, that is, on the state ownership, with a concession made for a different type like the vakıf or mülk land. Some attention was occasionally paid to phenomena such as land lease in the early phase, lump-sum paying, and gradual spread of çiftliks as an occurrence that was running against the classic regime and the like. Thereby a simple fact was overlooked, i.e., the “silent”, but necessary presence of a kind of relationship that must have coexisted with the miri regime without contradicting it. This was the very important fact rooted in the question of the volume of agrarian output, mainly the grain. From village to village the grain to people ratio was uneven: sometimes there was enough per capita, but often it was much above or much below the needs of the community as expressed by the social minimum. Here opens the possibility of taking the “surplus” in the shape of a rate higher than the tithe (or one eight) on the basis of private agreement, outside the scope of the Sacred Law. In order to present this matter in broader outline a comparison was necessary with other parts of the Empire (East Central Anatolia, Southern Syria and Palestine) where rates up to one half of the produce were in vigor according to local regulations with religious approval. The apparently diametrically opposite to each other, the two ap- proaches had still much in common “here” and “there”.
The Employment in the Mines of Skopje In the 15th and 16th Centuries (Kadi, Emin, Nazir and Kâtips)
German Saxon miners played an active role in the exploitation of the rich mineral deposits in Bosnia and Serbia throughout the Middle Ages and in the enrichment of the region. After the conquest of Istanbul, during the reign of Mehmed the Conqueror, these rich mineral deposits were gradually captured and incorporated into the Ottoman borders. As a matter of fact, the Ottoman bureaucracy made great efforts to ensure the continuous operation of these mining areas through the nazirs as well as the kâdi and the emin. Accordingly, the mines in what is today the majority of Macedonia, western Bulgaria, Ko- sovo and the southern parts of Serbia were transformed into a mukataa under the name of the Nezaret of Skopje to be administered from a single source. The silver and gold from these mines were converted into coins at the mints of Novo Brdo, Skopje and Kratovo, located close to the region. Although previous studies have provided information about the people involved in the exploitation of a mine, these are generally evaluated in the context of law codes. In particular, the information on katips is limited, and there is no de- tailed information on how many people served in a mine, what the process was for their appointment and dismissal, how much they were paid, whether there were wage differences between mines, and whether the wage balance varied from mine to mine. This study focuses on the work and remuneration of the scribes (maden, chashni, potok, tsarh, rosht, kalhane and sarraf), especially the kâdis who took part in the supervision phase of the mines and the scribes who recorded every stage of the mines, as well as the scribes who took office with the preference of the refugee and the salaries they received in return for their work. In addition, the nazirs, who assumed an important role in the control of the mukataas, and the military officers who assisted them in fulfilling this task were evaluated. In particular, the literature provides enlightening information about the katips who worked in the mining areas, the jobs they performed, the issues that were taken into consideration in their appointment and dismissal, and the salaries they received while performing these jobs.
Polysemy in Verbs Derived From Loanword Bases in Western Turkic Languages
This paper will present 137 polysemic verbs derived from loanword bases (nouns and adjectives) in Western Turkic languages, focusing on their use in Türkiye Turkish. As such, Türkiye Turkish will serve as the base language while Azerbaijan Turkish, Turkmen Turkish, and Gagauz Turkish equivalents will be used to make comparisons and draw certain conclusions. Since the noun stems from which the verbs are derived are not etymologically Turk- ish, it is impossible to track their historical phases giving the frames of this paper. The main sources or reference for Türkiye Turkish are Türkçe Sözlük and Kubbealtı Sözlüğü. Most of the corpus this research is based on consists of verbs formed by the suffix +lA- (132). The following suffixes also appear: +Al- (2), +A- (1), +Ar- (1), and +sA- (1). By creating a corpus with an over- view of elements from the four Western Turkic languages, it will be possible to draw valuable conclusions about semantic changes of polysemic verbs derived from loanword stems (from nouns and adjectives that in Türkiye Turkish have the status of loanwords).
Mahmud Derviš, Sabrana djela (Esad Duraković) Olga Vladimirovna Sarıgöz, Praktičeskaja grammatika sovremennogo tureckogo jazyka (v dialogah i tablično-shematičeskih objasnenijah) (Ekrem Čaušević) Amina Šiljak-Jesenković, Re/konstrukcija priča o Lj/ljubavi: fabule i izbor stihova iz mesnevija u prijevodu na bosanski jezik (Madžida Mašić) Emrah Seljaci, Poezija Fevzija Mostarca na osmanskom turskom jeziku (Madžida Mašić) Aladin Husić, Devširma u Bosni: o regrutaciji Bosanaca u janjičare (Muamer Hodžić) Elma Korić, Oblikovanje granica Bosne: Bosna u ahdnamama i hududnamama iz 16. i 17. stoljeća (Aladin Husić) Faruk Taslidža, Između ratova – na granici svjetova: društveno-privredni odnosi Hercegovačkog sandžaka u prvoj polovini XVII stoljeća: (1606–1645) (Emina Mostić) Hana Younis, A qadi in the Christian Empire (Amir Džinić) Dijana Pinjuh, Anđelko Vlašić, Tragom Evlije Čelebija kroz Hercegovački sandžak (Dino Mujadžević) Uloga i značaj Gazi Husrev-bega u historiji Bosne i Hercegovine: zbornik radova sa naučnog skupa “Uloga i značaj Gazi Husrev-bega u historiji Bosne i Hercegovine” Sarajevo, 22. septembar 2021. godine (Madžida Mašić) Zamišljanje žene, o ideološkim i kulturnim konceptima ženskog roda u povijesti Bosne i Hercegovine (Edin Omerčić) Dženita Karić, Bosnian Hajj Literature: Multiple Paths to the Holy (Amer Maslo) Katalog arapskih, turskih, perzijskih i bosanskih rukopisa, Svezak treći. (Madžida Mašić)
Copyright (c) 2023 Prilozi za orijentalnu filologiju
H. Yıldırım Ağanoğlu, Osmanlı belgelerinde Koniçe
H. Yıldırım Ağanoğlu, OSMANLI BELGELERINDE KONIÇE / KONJIC U OSMANSKIM DOKUMENTIMA, Ustanova Narodni univerzitet Konjic, Yunus Emre Enstitüsü, Balans, Konjic, 2022, 135 str.
The Sin, Evil, Ugliness and Horror of Blue: Blue Eyes in 14th-15th Century Divan Poetry
In Turkish poetic and prose works written during the 14th and 15th centuries, the blue eye color was synonymous with danger, hatred, repulsion and wickedness, both in this world and in the afterlife. According to some stories and texts, blue eyes, which the Turks accepted as sacred, chosen, and superior in pre-Islamic times, became associated with liars, sinners, terrifying, wicked, and ruthless people and beings in Turkish poetic and prose works written in and outside of Anatolia during the 14th and 15th centuries. This article traces the use of blue eyes in 14th and 15th century Divan poetry. First, the works that depict blueeyed wicked, terrifying, ruthless, ugly, and deceitful characters and beings are identified. Later, the reason behind this notable negative attitude towards blue eyes is explored and revealed by examining its origins.
Between the Sovereignty, State-control and Non-interference in Religion. The Islamic Community and the Muslims of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Antithesis of the German Orientalist Carl Heinrich Becker (1876–1933)
February 2023 marks the 90th anniversary of the death of Carl Heinrich Becker (1876–1933), a famous German orientalist, founder of modern Islamic studies in Germany and the Prussian Minister of Culture and Education (1921, 1925–1930). Since his appearance on the German and European intellectual scene at the beginning of the 20th century, C. H. Becker tried to focus his various interests not only on a historical and cultural research of medieval Islam but also on Muslim contemporary issues. Based on this, his analysis of the European colonial powers regarding their Islampolitik found its main motive in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy’s regulations on the legal position of the Bosnian Muslim’ religious and waqf-mearif institutions. Although some Bosnian authors, such as Ahmed Smajlović, Smail Balić, Nerkez Smailagić, Salih H. Alić, Fehim Bajraktarević and others, referred to Becker's scientific work, his notions about Bosnian Muslims remained mostly disregarded in Bosnian historiography and Islamic studies. Therefore, the aim of this article is to – using the literature, the press, Becker's numerous private correspondence, manuscripts and other archival sources – analyse Becker's observations about the Bosnian Muslims and their Islamic community through the practice of the Austro-Hungarian Islam policy. Thus, this paper analyses the method of his Islampolitik in the context of his antithesis of the sovereignty, state-control and non-interference in religion.