Keeping the Old, Favoring the New: The World of the Tractates of the Madrasab Reform

Abstract

This article concerns Sheikh Ali Efendizade Hodja Muhyiddin's Mcdreselerin Isiah] (Madrasah Reform), which is significant as the first and only rracrare written before the Proclamation of the Second. Constitutional Period. The crack-arc, which was published in 1897 in Egypt, is compared with the other published racrates of the madrasah people/the ulcma of the Second. Constitution. These include the works of Mehmed. Faik Efendi of Diyarbckir, Vildan Faik Efendi, Aydin's deputy Mehmed Ubeydullah Efendi, Halim Sabit Efendi of Kazan, and Whined So/LH Efendi, By emphasizing the similar and different proposals and criticisms included in the crack-arcs, self-criticism that was done by these writers who had madrasah roots or madrasah connections in one way or another is shown ro he a sign of their knowledge on the topic in the process leading ro Islah-i Medaris Nizamnainesi (October 1, 1914). Although none of the aforementioned rracrares can be qualified as an ideal reform text, a good joint text can be produced by considering all these tractates together, and this is partially apparent in the 1914 Regulations.