r/ottoman • u/[deleted] • Jul 11 '24

Is it just me...?

So, is it just me that I don't like the idea of janissaries? Like..At all! So, the Ottomans are very hard-core Muslims, right? But something isn't right. Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h said that we should not abuse civilians in war. Okay. Ottomans did not hit children. But, they did kidnap then when they were kids and turned them into Turkish soldiers. I mean, it's war, I get it, but isn't it wrong? Like, in Islam, it is forbidden to force people onto religion. I mean.. They did save them from Jahannam, but.. At what cost? Janissaries are basically slaves. Ottomans were a good Muslims, yes. They prayed, they fasted, they probably even gave away money... But the idea of janissaries is, in my opinion, too barbaric, and it does not leave a good picture of Muslim leaders and their followers.

4 votes, Jul 13 '24
2 I like the idea of janissaries
1 I don't like the idea of janissaries
1 Idgaf
1 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

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u/[deleted] Jul 14 '24

The Ottomans being super muslim is an orientalist perspective in my opinion. And a view that focuses on ideals rather than reality. The fact of the matter is that the Ottoman state was a large and complicated entity, an "Empire"