Zekeriya AKMAN

Ahmet Cevdet Paşa, was born in Lovech, Bulgaria, in March 1823. He started his education at an early age by taking classes from the scholars in Lovech and took there his primary education. He continued his education by going to Istanbul in 1839, when he was seventeen. He studied at the Fatih Madrasah and took lessons from the major scholars of the era. He was appointed as a judge at the age of twenty one. He had held several positions during his civil service as a judge, lecturer, historiographer, and governor. Ahmet Cevdet Paşa, who became a member of Meclis-i Vükela (Council of Ministers) in 1890, has been the Grand Vizier for a short while besides his situations at the Ministries of Justice and Education. In addition to his essential role in the politics and administration of the Ottoman Empire, Ahmet Cevdet Paşa also rose to prominence with his scientific side. It is also possible to consider him as a jurist, historian, educator, and sociologist because he wrote many works on these subjects. The most significant determinant that brings forward his judicial side might be his mission in the preparation of the civil code. He is also accepted as one of the major historians of the period due to his works in this field. His book “Kısas -ı Enbiya ve Tarihi Hulefa”, which includes the life of the Prophet Mohammed saw as well, was highly appreciated by the reader, and published many times. Ahmet Cevdet Paşa presented in this book the outstanding qualities and personality of the Prophet saw. as well as the emergence of Islam in a fluent style.

Key Words: Ahmet Cevdet Paşa, Islam, History of İslam, Prophetic Biyography, Hz. Muhammad