Ilmihal is the general term for handbook-style works written to assist Muslims in learning fundamental religious knowledge. Ilmihals typically cover essential information related to beliefs, worship, transactions, ethics, and the life of the Prophet Muhammad. Depending on their length, these works are classified as comprehensive, concise, or pocket-sized ilmihals. Generally, ilmihals are written to address broad audiences. However, in some cases, they are tailored to specific groups or individuals. One such category is military ilmihals, which can be considered a specialized type of ilmihal written for a particular profession. The emergence of this genre, military ilmihals, in the Ottoman period can be attributed to the gradual decline in the close relationship between members of the military and religious scholars, especially during the later years of the Ottoman Empire. In the early stages of the Ottoman state, particularly with the formation of a regular army, soldiers were known to possess a certain level of knowledge, both in terms of religious scholarship and piety. However, the changes implemented in the Ottoman military structure over time led to a weakening of the ties between these two groups. The weakening of these connections prompted the idea of producing military ilmihals to reestablish the relationship, particularly with the aim of assisting soldiers in fulfilling their religious duties, maintaining high morale during warfare, and providing them with spiritual support. While initially, individuals wrote military ilmihals for these purposes, later in the Republic period, the state itself began to request and commission the production of these works. In addition to the creation of military ilmihals, the Ottoman military also organized religious classes for soldiers and conducted various competitions related to religious knowledge. This study aims to identify and provide descriptive information about military ilmihals written in both Ottoman Turkish and Turkish. It emphasizes their significance within the context of the jurisprudential literature. The research reveals that no military ilmihal has been written for an extended period until recent times, highlighting the evolution of this genre over the years.

Islamic law, ilmihal, military ilmihals, Ottoman, Republic.