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Just read this book from Agema, and found it fascinating.
I particularly liked section 16, which I will quote
Change was opposed by most Ottoman Turks, for any change - including to the military - was considered highly questionable. Even the Sultan, the Shadow of God Upon Earth, was subject to the Sheriat, or Holy Law. The Ulema, or religious hierarchy, based its opposition to change on a saying of the Prophet Mohammad. "The wors things are those that are novelties, every novelty is an innovation, every innovation is an error, and every error leads to Hell-fire." There thus was a natural inclination against reform, and to prevent reforms from taking hold permanently once attempted.
It seems as relevant to understanding Muslim thought today as it did in the 18th century!
I particularly liked section 16, which I will quote
Change was opposed by most Ottoman Turks, for any change - including to the military - was considered highly questionable. Even the Sultan, the Shadow of God Upon Earth, was subject to the Sheriat, or Holy Law. The Ulema, or religious hierarchy, based its opposition to change on a saying of the Prophet Mohammad. "The wors things are those that are novelties, every novelty is an innovation, every innovation is an error, and every error leads to Hell-fire." There thus was a natural inclination against reform, and to prevent reforms from taking hold permanently once attempted.
It seems as relevant to understanding Muslim thought today as it did in the 18th century!