Ottoman Duâgûys in the 17th Century: The Institutionalized Practice of Appointed Prayers Officers in Its Historical, Financial and Social Dimensions

Abstract

In the Ottoman Empire, salaried duâgûys were employed starting predominantly from the 17th century. The identification of these individuals responsible for praying for the well-being of the state, the Sultan or the endowment (waqf) for both worldly and the hereafter, for a certain fee, has been neglected in academic studies to date. Despite this uncertainty, the literature reveals various definitions, estimations, and speculations about the duâgûys. Was the institution of the duâgûy present since the establishment of the state? What were their sources of income? Whose prayers were considered important? This article based on these questions, aims to provide a better understanding of the identities and roles of duâgûys, their positions within the collective memory of 17th century Ottoman society and offering a different perspective to other disciplines connected to the history.

Keywords

• salaried duâgûy
• personal duâgûy
• waqf duâgûy
• mürtezika