AI-Assisted Methods for the Comparison of Fatwā Collections

This study aims to systematically and quantitatively reveal the similarities between Ottoman Sheikh ul-Islam fatwa collections by comparing them through AI-assisted analysis methods. The immense volume and diversity of these collections make it challenging to conduct cross-period comparisons using traditional research methods; digital analysis methods address the critical need arising at this point.

Focusing on the fatwas of Minkarizade Yahya Efendi, this research examines similarity ratios among various Sheikh ul-Islam fatwas using AI-supported analytical tools. The study demonstrates that continuity is a robust element of Ottoman law. The high number of identical or similar fatwas found between the collections of Minkarizade Yahya Efendi and Çatalcalı Ali Efendi indicates that certain legal issues were maintained along a consistent trajectory. Furthermore, the study highlights the advantages of digital analysis in the social sciences and serves as an example of the utility of these methods for comprehensive analysis in fields with large datasets, such as Ottoman legal studies.