The Washington herald., 1909-04-25
THE SHEIKH-UL-ISLAM.
MOsIem Dgnitary Who Makes and Unakes Sultans-Cere
mOny of EnthrOnng PadiShah

scription by q fetvsh- Il was this atti-
tude on the part Of the SheIkh- -ul-Islsm
which forced the Sultan 10 yield. and 10
recall into life the long dormant constf-
tution-
Were the statesmen IN power and the
Sheikh-ul-Islam 70 jointly decide that the
Sultan's reign should cease, the follow
ing procedure. based on precedent, would
be followed. The ministers would submit
TO the Sheikh the question as to whether
the Sultan had not become unfit 20 exer-
else sovereignty over followers OF the
Prophet. and would enumerate the rea-
sons for their contention that ne had for
feited all claims 70 allegiance
The Skeikh would then. II he agreed
with them, issSe a fetvah 20 that effect.
which would give them the necessary
authority in the eyes Of Afoslens 10 not
only proclaim his deposition. but 20 Sc
cure his peTsOn-depOsition at CONSTANT
nOple being usually followed by speedy
death. though Furad was allowed 20 lin
ger after his deposition for nearly thirty
years in captivity by his brother and sue
CesSOr, Abdul Hamed.
The Inauguration Of the new Sultan
may be divided into two parts. the one
constituting his enthronement while the
other. a day or two afterWard, is known
as the ceremony of the sword. The for
mer Of these two functions is as follows:
The new sultan is driven in q closed
carriage TO the old SeragliO. which may
be described as The citadel Of the capital.
was built by MahOmet II. who conquered
Constantinople. on the site Of the ancient
ByzantIum. and has as its principal en-
trance the so-called Sublime Porte. from
which the government OF the Ottoman
empire takes its name
Through this archway the new Sultan
drives On alighting. he is conducted TO
one OF the principal state apartments OF
the Selamlik There he remains while IN
an adjoining hall the grand vizier. with
the Sheikh-Ul-Islam at his side. an
nOunces TO the assembled dlgnitaries OF
the empire. that by virtue OF a fetvah
OF the Sheikh-ul-1slam. the one Sultan
has been depOSed. and the new one ap-
pointed 10 take his place.
As soon as he has finished sepa king.
the fetvah emeni. OF grand notary OF
the Sheikh-Ul-Islam, reads the fetvah.
and when he has concluded the new Sui
tan Is ushered in 70 receive the homage
OF al present, each one according 10 his
rank approaching him IN turn and rev
--N-A-aF nt@~A4Ar- AtE A--ltA OF MS AaLlU0u-
line, or single-breasted black frOck coat.
The new Sultan thereupOn repairs 10 the
sanctuary Of the Seraglio. where the
hirikai shereef. or mantle Of the Prophet |
MahOmet is preserved.
Prayers are offered by the Sheikh-1l-
Islam. the Padishah's act Of recog-
milton is read by the grand vizier. and
then the Sultan appears on the dais Of
the great hall known as the ortakapou. I
and seats himself on the golden throne Of /
his predecessors surrounded by the
imaUms, who intOne the solemn chant /
Of proclamation Military bands strike /
up the imperial anthem, and all present
cry Long life 10 the Sultan which I
brings this portion OF the ceremony % a I
close
The real conservation Of the Sultan.
that Is 10 say. the ceremony Of the
sword, does not take place until a day
OF two later, and not until It Is com
pleted is the Padishah really entitled % 4
either the temporal or spiritual homage /
OF his people 1t is held In the exquisite I
" beautiful Mosque Of EyOOb. a perfect /
dream in white marble, erected by Sui
tan Mahommed II. in order 10 mark the 4
grave Of EyOOb. the cOmrade and lien
-----N VA AAAI Il NliArA. VIII LEEA LLQET Lffe ]
walls OF COnstantinople. on the accession /
Of its first siege by the Turks m the sev- I
snth century
Il is IN this mosque. so sacred that no /
unbeliever IS ever allowed to cross It's 4
threshold that is preserved the sword 4
OF ScimiJar OF Osman. the founder Of the /
present Ottoman dynasty. Of which Abdul 4
Hamed Is the thirty-fourth Sultan. The
.nvestiture of the Padishah with this
-ime-honOred weapon. the symbol OF nil
taTy, civil. and religious supremacy. IN
Turkey. takes the place Of the corona
ion or kings and emperOrs in Christian
countries. Z Is performed not bv the
Sheikh-ul-Islan. but by an old Mevledi 4
DeTvtsh, who bears the title Of Shereef OF
honieh, and who comes for the purpose
rom that city in Asia Minor
The ancient prerOEative enjoyed bv the
Aievledi Dervishes OF Konieh. OF girding
he sword Of Osman on the new Sultan
iates back 70 the days when the capi-aI
y the empire was at KOnieh. that is 10 +
iay- prior even 10 its transfer 70 Broussa.
ne Shereefs Of Konieh have a sort OF
'hadoWy claim themselves to the dignity
u Padishah. but on the accession 20 The
hrone Of the new Sultan, the ShereAf L
'olemnly renounces all rights thar he
nay possess. IN favor Of the monarch
After the investiture has been com
1leted. the Sultan rides In procession
through the streets Of the capital 10 the
Mosque OF ST Sofia. those least in dig
lity coming first, and the Sultan usually
N snow-white horse. last OF an Not
IntH prayers at the Mosque or St sofia
lave been offered up Is the Sultan consld-
RED as having been duly installed and
.onsecrated as Commander Of the Faith \
NJ.
1Copgrisht, 1903. b the Brentwood Comrzny) Il
In Pocket. /,
ron judge