The Ottoman Empire at its height, controlled a diverse population that operated within communities according to traditional legal codes. Over all of them, however, was Islamic law as interpreted by the mufti, judicial experts. Imber (Middle Easter Studies, University of Manchester) looks at the opinions or fatwa given by Ebu's-Su'ud (c.1490-1574), the Mufti of Istanbul. Imber gives a brief background of the growth of the empire, the nature of Islamic law at the time and the life of Ebu's-Su'ud before looking at his legal decisions. These were not legal judgments but opinions on the law that judges might use. A second section discusses the role of the secular rulers in modifying the law. The cases and fatwa are divided by major areas of dispute, land, taxes, trusts in mortmain, marriage, divorce, offenses against property and against people. Imber demonstrates how Ebu's-Su'ud managed to reconcile traditional to Islamic law while staunchly maintaining his orthodoxy. The myriad of examples gives a glimpse, not only into Ottoman laws, but life in sixteenth century Istanbul. Annotation 2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
