How did Ottoman sultans approach Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and His sacred trusts?
First off all, we must make a general observation about the tie between Ottomans and Islam. According to a widely-held belief by researchers – one which even Western Orientalists voice from time to time – the Ottoman dynasty was the dynasty most respectful to Islam, following the rules of Islam most closely right after the four great Khalifas. And in reality, when one examines the lives of the sultans, despite having many personal shortcomings and deficiencies, we see that they were most respectful to Islam and Prophet Muhammad in particular. They loved Islam and its prophet with deep sentiments that were not artificial, but came from within. This is surely a reflection of the education they received. It is British Ottoman Historian and Orientalist Bernard Lewis, who makes the best observation regarding this matter. Lewis provides a long list of Ottoman titles in relation to this, noting that the Ottomans were sincere with regard to Islam that their identity had become synonymous with
