Sefinetü'l-fetava - سفينة الفتاوى

This is a two-volume compilation of fetava compiled from numerous sources by Abdurrahman Efendi ibn-i Hacı Mustafa Erzurumi (died 1225 AH/1810 CE). The author had extensive experience of issuing fetava as a long-serving Kadı and Müftü of Erzurum. Each time he issued a fetva, he recorded and copied the sources to which he referred. These notes formed the basis of his Sefinetü'l-fetava, which he completed in 1216 AH/1801 CE. In the preface, which is in Arabic (f 7v), the author gives details of his lineage: Seyyid Hacı Abdurrahman ibn-i Seyyid Hacı Mustafa (Erzurum Müftü with the rank of Kudüs) ibn-i Mehmed Habib (Erzurum Kadı with the rank of Kudüs) ibn-i Seyyid Hacı Mehmed (Erzurum Müftü and father of Şeyhülislam Feyzullah Efendi) ibn-i Seyyid Habib Mehmed Efendi ibn-i Seyyid Şeyh Pir Mehmed el-Karabağî el-Hasenî (known as eş-Şeyhü'l-Esved and a descendant of Hasen from his father, and of Hüseyin from both his mother and his father). The preface also refers to the reigning Sultan, Selim ibn-i Mustafa, i.e. Selim III (ruled 1203-1222 AH/1789-1807 CE). The son of the Müftü of Erzurum, Abdurrahman Efendi himself assumed that office at the age of 21. He later followed his grandfather by becoming Kadı of the same city, an appointment which he was awarded by Sultan Selim III. After completing his customary one-year term, he was reassigned to the position of Müftü of Erzurum with the high rank of Kudüs. He completed his fetava compilation during this time. After completing the work, he was appointed to a vizierial position by Sultan Selim III. The text comprises two volumes in 316 sections, their subjects being listed in tables on ff 1v-4r and 4v-6r respectively. The text begins on f 7v. After each Ottoman Turkish fetva, the author offers direct citations from Arabic source-texts, which are identified in abbreviated form, for example Hidaye, Mülteka, Dürer, Bazzaziye, Tatarhaniye, and Ankireviye. He also cites some of the fetava of various Şeyhülislâms, including Ebussuud, Çatalcalı Ali Efendi, Zekeriyazade Yahya Efendi, Minkarizade Yahya Efendi, and Yenişehirli Abdullah Efendi. He also cites the fetava of his father Şeyh Mustafa, and refers to various kanunlar from the Ottoman Kanunnameler. Part of the text is written in the margins of numerous folios. There are also a few marginalia that were added later. Gilt and polychrome illuminations can be found on ff 7v, 8r, and 217v. The work ends with a date of late Cemaziyülahır of 1128 AH/May 1716 CE in words and 1028 AH/May 1619 CE in numerals. However, this is merely the date of a firman. Colophons can be found on f 211v and 396r. The work was copied by Seyyid Yusuf Hulusi, a pupil of Mustafa Vehbi, in 1254 AH/1838-9 CE.

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On the author and his Sefinetü'l-fetava, see Şükrü Özen, 'Osmanlı dönemi fetva literatürü,' Türkiye Araştırmaları Literatür Dergisi 3:5 (2005), 249-378, at 315. The work has been discussed in S Kaya, 'XVIII. yüzyıl Osmanlı toplumunda kredi ilişkilerinin hukuki boyutu,' Türk Hukuk Tarihi Araştırmaları 3 (Spring 2007), 13-41.