Devshirme and Shari'a

@article{Wittek1955DevshirmeAS,
  title={Devshirme and Shari'a},
  author={Paul Wittek},
  journal={Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies},
  year={1955},
  volume={17},
  pages={271 - 278}
}
  • P. Wittek
  • Published 1 June 1955
  • History
  • Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies
MY purpose is to draw attention to the rather puzzling problem laid before the student of early Ottoman history by the apparently complete incompatibility of the devshirme with the shari'a. The periodical forced levy of children from the Sultan—s Christian subjects for the recruiting of his standing army, and the forced conversion of those children to Islam must, indeed, appear—as it always did—as a flagrant disregard of the Holy Law which accords to the Christian subjects the status of dhimmi… 
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