The Time Management System of Abu Suud Effendi
An Ottoman Era Dilemma
In the Ottoman Empire, at the height of its power, the office of the Shaykh al-Islam was the highest position a Muslim scholar could hold. The Shaykh al-Islam’s power and influence rivaled only the Sultan himself. In this position, the Shaykh al-Islam was responsible for overseeing the implementation of Shariah across the empire, issuing fatwas (religious verdicts), appointing judges and imams, and ensuring that Islam governed the affairs of the people.
This position carried great responsibility, and for eleven years there was high turnover. The number of fatwa requests the Shaykh al-Islam received daily was too much for the average scholar to handle. Many attempted the role but gave up within a few years. It was overwhelming, and without a clear system of organization, very few had the patience to persevere.
At this time, the Ottoman Empire spanned over twenty (modern-day) countries across three continents, and people from all over the empire would write to the Shaykh al-Islam for guidance.
Abu Suud Effendi takes up the challenge
Everything changed in 952 AH (1545 CE) when Abu Suud (Ebussuud) Effendi assumed the position of Shaykh al-Islam during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. By then, Abu Suud had already gained an excellent reputation. Born into a scholarly family, he pursued Islamic studies from a young age. He and Suleiman were childhood friends, and Suleiman valued his opinions and knowledge even before appointing him to the role of Shaykh al-Islam.
Abu Suud worked his way through the judicial ranks, gaining a reputation for knowledge, wisdom, and administrative skill. In 952 AH, his career reached its apex with his appointment as Shaykh al-Islam. So efficient was he in this role that he served in that office for twenty-nine years, until he passed away at the age of eighty-three. But how did he transform an overwhelming fatwa system? He applied his management skills to create a system so efficient that he is said to have issued as many as 1,400 verdicts per day. Here are some of the effective changes he made:
Dedicated Office Hours
The first change Abu Suud made was to set fixed office hours for responding to fatwa requests, from Fajr (dawn prayer) until Dhuhr (midday prayer). He reserved the rest of his day for other responsibilities, including family matters. By delineating specific hours, he ensured balance in his affairs.
By making fatwas the first task after Fajr, he prioritized them and harnessed the blessing (barakah) of the early hours. A further benefit of fixed office hours was that during those hours he could focus intensely, without distractions, on issuing fatwas, thereby maximizing efficiency.
Delegation to Clerks
To further improve efficiency, Abu Suud hired clerks to assist with administrative tasks. Their role was to sift through fatwa requests, summarize them, and present them in order of priority. They also handled mailing the responses to the questioners. This greatly reduced the time required for each individual fatwa. By delegating ancillary tasks, Abu Suud freed up his time to concentrate on the core work of issuing fatwas.
He could simply review a request, reflect upon it, and issue his answer, without being burdened by administrative details. This approach markedly enhanced his productivity.
Developing Templates
Another principle Abu Suud applied was the development of fatwa templates in the three principal languages of the empire: Arabic, Turkish, and Persian. Often, long and detailed letters from citizens would precede the actual question. The clerks’ task was to identify the core question and rephrase it succinctly using the templates.
Thus each fatwa request reached Abu Suud in a standardized form, clear and to the point. This saved him time and enabled him to focus on answering rather than deciphering.
Reducing Writing Time
A fourth strategy was to favor a concise “yes/no + signature” style in many cases. For instance, a question such as “Is it permissible for me to sell an endowment property?” could be answered with a simple “Yes” or “No,” followed by his signature. Because of this streamlined format, he could respond to many more fatwas per day.
This did not mean he always gave one-word answers; rather, he elaborated only when necessary. Over time, people became accustomed to his style and the format of his responses.
Multilingual Practice
Although not strictly a time-management technique, Abu Suud’s fluency in multiple languages helped his efficiency. He issued fatwas in Arabic, Turkish, and Persian, and his templates existed in all three languages. This enabled him to communicate directly with a broader audience and respond more swiftly.
The Power of Consistent Application
Abu Suud holds a legendary place in Ottoman history. He is regarded as one of the most influential figures in shaping the Ottoman bureaucracy. During his twenty-nine years as Shaykh al-Islam, he shaped public policy, clarified Islamic principles, and educated the masses through his writings and fatwas. In a role that many before him found overwhelming, Abu Suud thrived.
Through establishing dedicated office hours, delegating to willing staff, employing templates, reducing writing time, and harnessing multilingual skills, Abu Suud turned a chaotic office into an efficient institution of public service.
Biographical details of Abu Suud Effendi’s life were drawn from Ebu’s-suʿud: The Islamic Legal Tradition by Colin Imber (pp. 12–15, Edinburgh University Press, 1997).
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