25/02/2023
The House of Osman (Osmanoğlu) officially followed the Hanafi school of Fiqh which was formulated by Imam e Azam Abu Hanifa. The Tomb of the great Imam located in Baghdad was also very well maintained. In early 16th century the tombs of Imam Abu Hanifa and Sayyid Abdul Qadir Jillani were demolished by the Safavid Twelvers who took control of Baghdad. After returning from the European campaign, Caliph Suleyman waged Jihad on the Safavids and regained Baghdad in 1534.
Immediately, he commissioned the rebuilding of the Tombs of the Sunni Imams including Sayyidina Imam Musa al Kazim and also visited Maqams of Amir ul Momineen Sayyidina Ali ibn Abi Talib ( رضي الله عنه) and Sayyidina Hussain Ibn Ali (رضي الله عنهم ) located in Najaf and Karbala cities of modern Iraq. Thus, Suleyman perfectly exhibited the Ottoman commitment towards the Orthodox Sunni Faith which is based on the endless veneration of both the Sahaba e Kiraam and Ahle Bayt.
For over 600 years the Ottoman state followed the Hanafi Jurisprudence, however the other Orthodox Sunni Schools like Sha'fai, Maliki, and Hanbali were accommodated as well. Other Sunni political states like Seljuks, and Mughals, also followed the Hanafi school of Fiqh. May Allah raise the ranks of Imam Abu Hanifa who was a beacon of faith and knowledge.
Source: "Suleiman the Magnificent" by Andre Clot (prominent French 🇫🇷 historian).